European Union & Asia
Background
ASEAN has the longest tradition of regional cooperation with the EU. The first Foreign Ministers Meeting took place in 1978, and in 1980 the two regional organizations formalized their relations with the signing of the EC-ASEAN Cooperation Agreement. Following the emergence of new cooperation structures in the late 1980s, primarily in the Trans-Pacific region, Europe also redoubled its efforts to intensify its relations with Asia in the early 1990s. In March 1996 the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was established as a dialogue process and network at summit and ministerial level and to promote exchange among experts. To preserve its informal character and function as a network, ASEM is barely institutionalized. Its only permanent physical institution is the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), which concentrates on fostering cultural, social and interpersonal exchange between Europe and Asia.
Delegation of the European Commission in Singapore
As a diplomatic mission of the European Commission (EC), the Delegation works to enhance the visibility of the European Union (EU) and promotes closer ties with Singapore by providing an efficient and reliable communications channel between the Commission and the Singapore government.
EU Centre in Singapore
The European Union (EU) Centre in Singapore is a joint project of the European Commission, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). It is aimed at encouraging greater awareness and knowledge of the EU through support for EU-focused education, research and outreach activities.
EU Centre
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) was launched in February 1997 for the purpose of promoting greater mutual understanding between the peoples of Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural and peopl-to-people exchanges. ASEF is based in Singapore.
Asia-Europe Foundation
