EU-ASEAN Relations: The Importance of Values, Norms and Culture. EU Centre, Singapore Working Paper No. 1, June 2010

This working paper investigates the various factors underpinning relations between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As the EU and ASEAN have a long-standing relationship, which dates back to the 1970s, and EU-ASEAN cooperation has been very successful in the area of trade, it seems strange that political relations between the two regions have been comparatively indifferent. This working paper shows that important reasons for the low-key character of EU-ASEAN relations can be found in the differences in values, norms and culture between Europe and Asia. These differences have become most obvious over the inclusion of human rights and democracy clauses in their cooperation and with regard to the question of how to treat Burma/Myanmar. Paying particular attention to these two issues and the importance of values, norms and culture, this working paper re-assesses the current state of EU-ASEAN relations