Session I: ASEAN, Europe and a Volatile World

ASEAN and the European Union are adjusting and adapting to unexpected geopolitical transformations and uncertainties. Having just celebrated its golden jubilee, ASEAN is entering a critical new chapter in its quest for greater regional cooperation and integration amid expectations it will play a bigger and more relevant role in global affairs. The EU has reaffirmed its unity, ambition and resolve in the face of Brexit as well as rising pressure from populists and difficult neighbours. ASEAN’s main challenge in the coming years will be to move towards a truly integrated economic community while also navigating the difficult US-China relationship and maintaining “ASEAN centrality” in the face of external pressures. Europe is charting a new course for its relations with its neighbourhood including Russia, Turkey and Africa as well as with China and has taken important steps in building a defence and security identity. Both ASEAN and the EU are dealing with immigration and refugees and have a shared interest in the preservation of the rules-based international order and developing new norms for cyberspace and tackling hybrid security threats. - What are ASEAN and Europe’s key economic and security interests and concerns in a changing regional and global environment? - Can ASEAN and the EU join ranks more forcefully on tackling global challenges including climate change, sustainable development and terrorism? - Are there key lessons that ASEAN and the EU share with each other on how to live and thrive in a changing world? - How are young people in ASEAN and the EU reacting to the rapid global transformations and how is this impacting on regional politics?