Mitteilungen

From the 21 to 23 of July, six (6) Members of the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (DASE) visited Singapore. The delegation was headed by the Chair of DASE, Mr Wouter BEKE (EPP, Belgium).

The European Parliament, represented by a delegation of DASE Members, and the Parliament of Singapore held the 15th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on 22 July 2026. The previous Inter-Parliamentary meeting was held in Strasbourg, France, in November 2025.

The Members of the European Parliament met with the Speaker of the Parliament Mr SEAH Kian Peng, Deputy Speaker Mr Christopher DE SOUZA, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry Ms GAN Siow Huang, officials at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information,

PSA International (operator of the port of Singapore), EU Member State Ambassadors and the European business community, as well as representatives of civil society.

Upon the conclusion of the visit, the Chair of DASE underlined that "Singapore has greatly contributed to the rules-based multilateral governance system. Partners like Singapore are highly valued amidst the current global geo-strategic and economic instabilities" "Together with Singapore, we are also defending the rights for free navigation in straits used for international navigation."

The Chair said that "Singapore has been elemental to advancing ASEAN integration and ASEAN-EU relations. Next year, Singapore holds the ASEAN chair. We look forward to marking 50 years of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations with an ASEAN-EU summit and a further upgrade to the Strategic Partnership between the EU and ASEAN."

"Singapore is a significant trade and investment partner of the EU, also thanks to our free trade agreement. We welcome that other ASEAN countries aim to conclude their ongoing negotiations of free trade agreements with the EU as well. The EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement came into force this year. With this agreement, the EU and Singapore are paving the way in digital trade", MEP Beke said.

DASE Chair Beke added that "parliamentary diplomacy represents a dimension which is integral to the bilateral relations and can greatly contribute to the deepening of the bilateral relations."

During their visit, Members of the European Parliament visited the operations of the port of Singapore and learned about its use of automation, and its relocation and expansion plans. Members also discussed Singapore's healthy aging strategies with the Ministry of Health, and Singapore's digital society policies with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. Representatives of civil society briefed Members on citizens' concerns.

Composition of the delegation: Wouter BEKE (EPP, Belgium), Vlad VOICULESCU (Renew Europe, Romania), Daniel ATTARD (S&D, Malta), Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, Spain), Ştefan MUŞOIU (S&D, Romania), and Iuliu WINKLER (EPP, Romania).

For further information, please contact: DASE@europarl.europa.eu

DASE Chair Wouter BEKE has issued a statement following Timor-Leste becoming ASEAN Member State at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Sunday 26 October 2025.

From the 24th to 27th February, eight (8) Members of the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (DASE) visited Thailand. The delegation was headed by the Chair of DASE, Mr Wouter BEKE (EPP, Belgium).

European Parliament represented by a delegation of DASE Members and INTA rapporteur for Thailand, and the Thai Parliament held the 13th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on 25 February 2025. The previous Inter-Parliamentary meeting was held in December 2022, in a remote format.

The Members of the European Parliament met with the Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Mr. Paradorn Prissananantakul, Chairperson of Thailand's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ms. Saratsanun Unnopporn, also as the Thai Co-Chair of the EU-Thailand Inter-Parliamentary Meeting, Thai Trade Representative Mr. Werapong Prapha, Governor of Bangkok Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Chiang Mai Mr. Nirat Pongsitthithaworn, and senior members of the Prime Minister's Pheu Thai party and the main opposition party, the People's Party.

Members also met representatives of European businesses from the European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC) and the Thai-European Business Association (TEBA). In the outreach to the Northern city Chiang Mai Members visited French company Safran's assembly plant, which produces galley and furniture for aircraft. Members also visited Phi Suea House, an off-grid solar, batteries and fuel cell powered private house of German Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai.

Upon the conclusion of the visit, the Chair of DASE underlined that "the relations between European and Thai people and nations are historically long-standing and close and have an important agenda still today". He said that "we are further developing the trade relations with Thailand, one of the most important trading and investment partners of the EU in Southeast Asia and the political relations with international peace and security agenda in mind, and cooperation on green transformation."

He also stressed the importance of completing the national ratifications of the EU-Thailand Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which was signed at the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Brussels in December 2022.

"The parliamentary diplomacy is an irreplaceable dimension in the bilateral political agenda, said Mr Beke. "Thailand as a neighbour to Myanmar has a key role to play in facilitating peace in the crisis in Myanmar. Thailand is one of the most valued members in the ASEAN context too."

Composition of the delegation: Wouter BEKE (EPP, Belgium), Kathleen VAN BREMPT (S&D, Belgium), Jens GIESEKE (EPP, Germany), Daniel ATTARD (S&D, Malta), Beata SZYDLO (ECR, Poland), Daniel FREUND (Greens, Germany), Rada LAYKOVA (ESN, Bulgaria) and Ondřej DOSTÁL (NI, Czech Republic).