Page 64 - EU_ASEN Relations: Perspectives From Malaysia

lead to a certain estrangement between the two regional organisations. The

strategy to mix economic interests with issues of governance did not produce
much reputation for the EU as a normative actor, nor did it help to foster

economic ties with ASEAN (Meissner et al. 2014: 6ff.). It would thus be
beneficial for both sides to cooperate with a realistic view on each other.

In order to improve the future EU-ASEAN relationship it could be beneficial

to expand the regular meetings of government officials and top bureaucrats to
ordinary citizens of both regions. ASEAN has declared itself a people-oriented

and people-centred organisation whilst the EU is proud of its democratic

political culture based on civil society participation, transparency, and open
dialogue. As such, it would be logical to improve EU-ASEAN relations

through increased dialogue between academics, professionals, civil society
activists, politicians, artists, journalists, and youth group leaders. ASEAN and

the EU both “would gain in legitimacy if it would do more for democratizing
regional governance and involving civil society in the decision-making

process. Bridging the communication gap between the two sides through

increased exchanges” (Nuttin 2017: 36) would contribute significantly for a
much better economic, political, and socio-cultural cooperation between the

EU and ASEAN.
The rapidly changing international environment brings the two regions closer

together. The economic and political rise of China as well as the potentially
declining role of the USA in both regions (as indicated by the Trump

administration!) has changed the international landscape in which ASEAN and

the EU operate. Whereas China is perceived as a potential threat to Southeast
Asia, not only in disputed areas such as the South China Sea, the EU is facing

increasing demands on strengthening its joint security policy. This is especially

in the case of the USA reducing its military support for Europe, and the other

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