EU to give Asia special attention

THE European Union's development co-operation policy, a major plank in the community's external policies, is expected to attract intense attention later this year.

In particular, priority will be accorded to the future direction of the community's decades-long relationship with Asia.

Over the past three decades, the community and its co-operation policy have grown in scope and stature.

While that remains so, the varying rate of economic development in Asia has necessitated a revised concept for future co-operation with countries in the region.

''The commission is working on a paper on Asia. This is expected to be discussed at a top-level meeting in Karlsruhe in Germany,'' said Etienne Reuter, the European Union's chief representative in Hong Kong.

A ministerial-level meeting in Karlsruhe, the constituency of German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, is scheduled for September.

''The commission has been active in development co-operation in the region for years. What is more challenging now is how to cope with fast-growing economies,'' said Mr Reuter, a lawyer and a senior civil servant of the European Commission.

Europe's interest in Asia will be revived further when Germany takes over the EU's rotating presidency from Greece in the second half of this year.

Germany has itself formulated a new strategy for the region in terms of development aid and in relation to foreign policy.

In an interview, Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel was quoted as saying that an ''active Asian policy is in Germany's immediate political and economic interests. It is also an indispensable component of a global policy to secure peace''.

Earlier this year, German diplomats based in 21 Asia and Pacific countries, meeting in Bonn, adopted a 10-point policy document stressing the importance of the region to Germany.

At the conference, Mr Kinkel said Germany would make Asia a theme of its six-month presidency of the EU.

Pointing out that the EU remained the biggest donor of development and humanitarian aid, Mr Reuter said the community's approach to the region would be characterised by unity, openness and curiosity.

Member states would show more cohesion is dealing with regional issues unlike before when the community had only limited scope for joint decisions; place more emphasis on culturay the community's role as the developing world's major trading partner.

In efforts of co-operation, Mr Reuter said the community did not attempt to define the needs of individual countries. They took the form of contractual partnerships.

Europe's solidarity with the developing world manifested itself in these partnerships that are constantly evolving, based on the results achieved, difficulties encountered and also political and economic changes.

It is a continuing, changing, process. Late last year, the community signed co-operation agreements with Sri Lanka and India.

The agreements initialled in Brussels with these two growth-oriented South Asian nations were aimed at improving economic co-operation based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.

Combatting hunger in Asia and the developing world still remains a priority for the community because vast disparities exist.

Home to 59 per cent of the world's 5.5 billion people, Asia, while being a ''dynamic'' region, is also where millions are trapped in poverty.

The Asian Development Bank estimates that there are more than 500 million poor people in the region.

In the Philippines and India, millions live below the poverty line. In Indonesia, more than 27 million, 15 per cent of the country's population of 189 million, live in poverty.

Issues such as poverty, health and environment continue to draw Europe's attention.

While Europe continues to deepen the enduring partnership with Asia, it will not mean diverting its resources aimed at helping Africa, the principal beneficiary of community aid.

South Asia is the second largest recipient of community development aid.

''There is not likely to be an increase in aid to Asia. Instead, there will be a sophistication and improvement in development co-operation,'' Mr Reuter said.

l and political dialogue; and make an effort to gain a better grasp of the culture and politics of Asia.

''Europeans should come to Asia with the eyes of Marco Polo and not Francis Xavier,'' said Mr Reuter.

Development aid programmes are complemented b