On 19 September, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy adopted a Joint Communication that sets out the EU's vision for a new and comprehensive strategy to better connect Europe and Asia.
By this agreement, the EU will extend its digital links and promote the exchange of data for customs and digital transport corridors and assess risks. The Joint Communication is part of the implementation of the EU’s global strategy and follows the move towards safe data flows between the EU and Japan.
The EU will combine a principled approach to connectivity and recognition that Asia encompasses different regions, which are home to very diverse countries in terms of economic models and level of development, with concrete action based on three strands:
The proposals made in the Joint Communication will now be discussed in the European Parliament and the Council, and will contribute to discussions on connectivity at the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, to be held in Brussels on 18-19 October.
The full document can be found here
