The Making of the EU’s Strategy Towards Asia

Abstract

Asia accounts today for nearly 60 per cent of world population, for more than one-third of world output and almost 50 per cent of economic growth since 2000. Its share of global trade has increased from 11 per cent to 26 per cent between 1960 and 2005. Since the early 1990s Asian countries have become increasingly significant for Europe’s welfare. Asia as a whole is currently the EU’s largest regional trading partner and one of the major outlets for European goods and investments. In a context of global interdependence the prosperity of Europe could be jeopardized, more than ever, by economic and/or political instability in the Asian region. From this linkage stems the interest of the EU and its member states in enhancing relations with the thriving Asian economies.