International statistical cooperation

ASEAN is covered by the Regional Programming for Asia "Strategy Document 2007-2013".

• Community support is focused on three focal areas:
  (i) Regional capacity building and region-to-region dialogue,
  (ii) statistical cooperation
  (iii) cooperation and policy reform in the field of security.
• Statistical Cooperation: Support will be provided to ASEAN to strengthen its and its member countries’ capabilities to produce more accurate and reliable statistics in selected areas and facilitate ASEAN regional integration through better coordination of activities within ASEAN and between ASEAN and the EU.

In this framework, the EU is financing, through the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the EU-ASEAN Statistical Capacity Building Programme (EASCAB). The role of Eurostat is to provide technical advice for monitoring the implementation of the programme to the EU Delegation in Jakarta.

Eurostat is also committed in supporting the Commission for any statistical implications that may come out from the negotiation of agreements (such as Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, Free Trade Agreements, etc.), both at bilateral or regional level.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) encompasses 10 South East Asian countries (584 million people and a GDP of 1,100 billion € in 2008). It was established in 1967 in Thailand with the signature of the Bangkok declaration by the five original member nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand). Then other countries were admitted in 1984 (Brunei Darussalam), in 1995 (Vietnam), in 1997 (Lao People's Democratic Republic and Burma/Myanmar), and at last in 1999 (Cambodia).

In 2003 the ASEAN leaders discussed the creation of an ASEAN Economic, Political-Security and a Socio-cultural Community. At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the leaders affirmed their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015. The EU strongly supports this development, given its first hand experience of the benefits of closer regional integration.