MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Catherine Ashton, 31 May to 1 June 2013

Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton, 1 Jun 2013 [Photo: MFA]
 

                The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Baroness Catherine Ashton is on an official visit to Singapore from 31 May to 1 June 2013.  Baroness Ashton is also attending the 12th International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue 2013), where she delivered an address at the Second Plenary Session on “Defending National Interests; Preventing Conflict”.

                During the visit, Baroness Ashton separately called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugam.  The leaders welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the EU-Singapore Partnership & Cooperation Agreement (ESPCA).  This is an important agreement that will provide a strategic and political framework to further enhance Singapore-EU relations, and allow both sides to deepen engagement across a wide range of sectors.  The leaders looked forward to the smooth approval and early ratification of the ESPCA and the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA).  Baroness Ashton expressed the EU's desire to strengthen its cooperation with Singapore and with ASEAN.  They also discussed recent developments in Asia and the Eurozone.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

1 JUNE 2013