ASEM Outlook Workshop16 Apr 2010 to 17 Apr 2010
Brussels, Belgium In support of the 8th ASEM Summit hosted by Belgium, the ASEM Outlook Workshop will devote attention to issues of ASEM’s functionality and efficiency. A second objective is to discuss emergent policy issues in assessment of a future ASEM dialogue agenda. The two-day workshop will bring together a small group of ASEM watchers, including the Summit host and ASEM coordinators, the Asia-Europe Business and People’s Forums, as well as experts of inter-governmental structures comparable to ASEM. With the addition of Russia and Australia, the ASEM process now involves 45 countries that represent more than half the world’s GDP and two regional institutions, the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat. Political interest to join the ASEM process must be seen as an indication of ASEM’s success, but ASEM’s enlarged – and growing – constituency also means that it is facing a wider range of issues in a world of increasing complexity. To demonstrate the strategic value of informal dialogue and deliver the constructive solutions promised at its conception, the ASEM process needs, more than ever, to adapt and improve its working methods and efficiency. Additionally, a roundtable briefing will be held with the public about the actual preparation of the ASEM summit and a discussion about the results and prospects of the ASEM process. The briefing is organised by ASEF together with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). |
