European Neighbourhood Monitor

Online magazine highlighting research, news and analysis covering the European Neighbourhood

Indo-Pacific

South East Asian NGOs warn about the development implications of EU policy

Indo-Pacific / By

Kaoem Telapak, an Indonesian NGO has warned that the EU’s recently adopted restrictions on the import of commodities linked to deforestation, such as palm oil from Indonesia, have a noble intention but could have unintended impacts. Writing in newspaper Mongobay, a spokesperson for the NGO notes that “one of the biggest importers of Indonesian palm …

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Chief of UN-WTO trade body warns EU deforestation rules risk ‘catastrophic’ impact on global trade

Indo-Pacific / By

In an interview with the Financial Times, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director of the ITC, a joint agency of the UN and World Trade Organization, has lashed out against new EU deforestation rules. She told the newspaper that the ban on goods linked to deforestation from entering the EU in effect favour major corporations able to …

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“The security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific region can no longer be discussed separately”

Indo-Pacific / By

Writing in Politico, Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi comments: “The security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific region can no longer be discussed separately — that was my main message when I attended the NATO ministerial meeting last year for the first time as Japanese foreign minister.” He notes that in “the Indo-Pacific, unilateral …

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“To regain its moral compass, the Nobel Peace Prize is in urgent need of reform”

Indo-Pacific, Middle East / By

Guest commentary by Saman Rizwan Last weekend, when British Asian TV star, Meera Syal accepted her lifetime achievement award at the Bafta’s she used the platform to urge the TV industry to embrace diversity. In 2023, Western industries still lack the representation to promote a truly inclusive society. And this is no more pertinent than …

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European Parliament votes to approve the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as UK joins CPTPP

Indo-Pacific, Indopacific / By

The European Parliament has voted to approve the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), as part of a whole range of proposals, including the new CBAM carbon border tariff. The new rules create new trade barriers and bureaucracy for wood imports, and have angered trading partners in South East Asia. 🌳Deforestation Parliament adopts new regulation to fight climate …

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Malaysian home affairs minister to visit Europe amidst tensions over legal dispute with “Sulu heirs”  

Indo-Pacific / By

In 2013, Malaysia suffered an armed incursion from the Philippines by a group claiming to be the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, part of the resource-rich Malaysian province of Sabah. Malaysia was able to make an end to it, but as a result, it no longer paid the heirs an annual stipend of $5,300, stemming from a historical obligation …

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UK poised to join Asia Pacific trade deal

Indo-Pacific / By

The Financial Times reports that The United Kingdom is “poised” to join the Asia-Pacific trade deal CPTPP, according to people involved in the talks. UK looks to ‘imminently’ join the trans-Pacific trading block https://t.co/hMi8Ivgii5 via @EllenAMilligan pic.twitter.com/GlKxcRJ0cj — Zoe Schneeweiss (@ZSchneeweiss) March 23, 2023 Part of the deal is reportedly that the UK will eliminate …

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Indonesia and Malaysia to send joint delegation to Brussels to address trade tensions

Indo-Pacific / By

Tensions between the EU and South East Asia over its deforestation now also affecting trade ties. By the end of 2023, the EU aims to agree the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Trade Agreement (IEU-CEPA). According to EU ambassador Vincent Piket, this is being complicated by the EU’s deforestation regulation. He stated: “We have lots of explaining to …

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