Speech by George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at Europe Day Celebration on 8 May 2007

1. I am delighted to join our European friends in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which created what is today the European Union. On May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the European Coal and Steel Community, the precursor of the EU, and that day has become Europe Day.

2. The EU has been a great success. It has helped to bring about a long period of peace and development never seen before in the history of the European continent. It is a remarkable achievement that tribal nations with a strong sense of their own identity should come together in this way, willingly ceding to a higher authority important elements of their sovereignty. Some say it is still an experiment but then what is not an experiment in human society? The US too is still an experiment. So also China today.

3. Without the balance of power maintained during the Cold War, the EU could not have evolved the way it did for it is often the fear of a common threat that keeps human society together. However, the EU has been able to maintain its vigour despite the end of the Cold War because of new external and internal challenges. The Atlantic relationship remains strong.. Russia is still a challenge but it is no longer the mortal threat once posed by the Soviet Union. Without the strength and active diplomacy of the EU, the collapse of the Soviet Empire could have destabilised the whole of Eastern Europe for a considerable length of time. Ethnic cleansing would not have been confined to the Balkans otherwise. Instead, the absorption of the newly independent Eastern European states into the EU has been happily smooth.

4. The EU has become an inspiring model for other regions. It has certainly been an inspiration to us in ASEAN which 40th Anniversary we celebrate this year. Although we are unlikely ever to reach the same level of integration as Europe, and our decision-making process will never be as Cartesian, there are many aspects of the European construction which are relevant to our own construction. Like the EU, ASEAN was also formed in response to the pressures of the Cold War. And, also like the EU, ASEAN continues to be vigorous because of new challenges. In our case, the rise of China and India is the dominant challenge. If we do not integrate further and respond comprehensively to the growing strength of China and India, we will be left behind. There is also a danger that a weak ASEAN can be a source of instability in 21st century Asia. Recognising this, ASEAN has been very active in creating a regional architecture which brings the major players together with us in political and economic cooperation.

5. Thus, for both reasons of the past and of the future, the partnership between the EU and ASEAN has been gathering strength. Reasons of the past because, except for Thailand, all of Southeast Asia was once colonized by European powers and inherited its legacy. Reasons of the future because we share a common interest in each other's regional integration. A strong EU is good for ASEAN. A strong EU presence in ASEAN expands our manoeuvring space and gives us more options. In the same way, a strong ASEAN is good for the EU. A strong ASEAN friendly to the EU gives you a major base in the fastest growing region in the world.

6. In addition to celebrating Europe's 50th Anniversary and ASEAN's 40th, we also celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-EU partnership. 50-40-30 marks this year's significance. Singapore is honoured to be in the chair. It was not supposed to be but for Myanmar's decision to give up its chairmanship last year. We thank the EU for all its help and encouragement. The EU has gone out of its way to help us draft our own Charter for the future. When the Foreign Ministers of the EU and ASEAN met last month in Nuremberg, we agreed that the Commemorative Summit this year will be open to all European Leaders who wish to attend, not just the Leaders of the Troika. All are invited to the celebration.

7. Just last week, at the Economic Ministers Meeting of the EU and ASEAN in Brunei, a decision was taken to begin negotiations for an eventual ASEAN-EU FTA. This builds upon the Trans Europe Asia Trade Initiative that was launched a few years ago. These negotiations will have to take into account the different levels of development within ASEAN. For the Less Developed Economies of Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, the priority should be on helping them advance to a reasonable level before talking about free trade in goods and services. The FTA is a strategic move which will bind us together.

8. Between the EU and Singapore, our relations are excellent. Europe has a large presence in Singapore which we value. Thousands of European companies are based here, many with regional headquarters. Europeans who live here are generally well-integrated into our society. Quite a number play an active role in our cultural life. Not a few take part in philanthropic activities. On behalf of all Singaporeans, I thank you for your friendship and contributions.

9. There is therefore much to celebrate.