Page 37 - EU_ASEN Relations: Perspectives From Malaysia

Development and Poverty Eradication), AMMY (Youth), and AUN (ASEAN

Universities Network), among others.

ASEAN-EU Socio-Cultural Cooperation

The 2007 Nuremberg Declaration underlined the EU and ASEAN’s mutual
resolve to build strong regional organisations in accordance with the UN

Charter, and to further deepening of its dialogue relations by sharing their
experience of community building. The declaration reiterated their resolve to

combating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and recognising that
climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today.

Although there had been several discussions of cooperation on economic,

political security, energy security, and Socio-Cultural cooperation in the past
(i.e., Bali Concord II, Vientiane Action Programme, etc.) between the EU and

ASEAN, the Nuremberg Declaration was perhaps the first most elaborate
action plan to increase cooperation between the two regions. There was a

resolve to work closely in addressing the growing concern of the spread of
infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, disaster management,

increasing people-to-people contact though cultural exchanges, interfaith

dialogue, etc., and expanding cooperation in S&T, education, arts and culture,
etc.

In April 2012, the foreign ministers of ASEAN and the EU adopted the Bandar
Seri Begawan Plan for action, building on the ASEAN-EU cooperation from

2013–2017. The plan provides support for higher education in ASEAN,
backing for the AUN (ASEAN University Network), S&T, environmental

policies, sustainable development, and disaster response. A proportionate sum
of the EU financial contribution, which runs into several million Euros,

supports the implementation of the ASCC blueprint. Two supports provided

by the EU to ASEAN need special mention here. The first is the READI

31