..Let me finish by thanking once again President Widodo for his warm welcome. You can count, Mr. President, on the friendship and cooperation of the European Union in carrying forward your reform agenda at the helm of this vibrant country. --- Press statement by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, following his meeting with the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo I wish to thank President Widodo and the Indonesian people for the warm welcome I have received in Jakarta. I am aware that this is one of the first foreign visits since President Widodo took office and I am grateful that he has granted this honour to the European Union. President Widodo and I have just returned from Brisbane, where the G20 leaders demonstrated strong unity to sustain global economic recovery and implement further reforms to improve global financial regulation, increase international tax transparency, and boost trade and investment. Our shared aim is to bring the global economy on a higher growth path. The European Union is contributing with a robust package of measures: - A 300bn (2 per cent of the European GDP) additional investment package for the upcoming 3 years. - A successful rebooting of the financial sector, facilitating lending to firms, especially SME. - An accommodative monetary policy and flexible fiscal consolidation aimed at structural targets, taking into account the economic cycle. - Deepening the single European market: energy union, single digital market, research and innovation package (80 bn over 7 years) - Negotiating FTA (f.ex. US, Japan) or concluding (Canada and Singapore) Today, with President Widodo, we reviewed the state of our bilateral relations. We both agree that important opportunities lie ahead. The arrival of new leaders in Indonesia and the European Union will provide additional dynamism in a period marked by increased international challenges and awareness of interdependence. Furthermore, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force on 1 May, provides a broader institutional framework for the development of a relationship that is already long and deep. This is the first agreement of its kind between the European Union and an ASEAN partner. It confirms and deepens our shared commitment for democratic principles and human rights. It will also enable further cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as infrastructure, food security or sustainable forestry management. We have already agreed on a voluntary partnership to tackle the problem of illegal logging and to improve market opportunities for Indonesian timber. President Widodo and I have also reviewed our economic ties. The European Union is the worlds biggest economy and the number one market for Indonesian exports in goods. Overall, the European Union is Indonesias third largest trading partner and the second largest foreign investor. But there is vast untapped potential. The European Union looks forward to engaging with the new Indonesian Government in negotiations on an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. This would give a boost to bilateral trade and investment and create prosperity and jobs in both Indonesia and the European Union. Finally, we have examined some of the international challenges that we are facing. We share the belief that in a globalised world, individual nations are stronger when they work together, and that differences must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law. In this context, I underlined the need to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine with full implantation (especially by Russia) of the Minsk-agreements, as well as the need to step up international efforts to prevent the spread of extremism and terrorism. Indonesia is playing an important role on both fronts. It has supported Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has also clearly condemned the barbaric acts committed in Syria and Iraq under the false invocation of Islam. As regards climate change negotiations, the recent very ambitious legally binding commitment (40 per cent less greenhouse gas emission in 2030 compared to 1990) assumed by the European Union will establish a new international benchmark. I hope that Indonesia will assume a leadership role in this vital matter and submit timely and ambitious commitments. Our cooperation should extend to negotiations on new sustainable development goals in order to continue reducing poverty, as well as the many inequalities that still persist between and within nations. The issues we have covered in our discussions today reflect the strength and depth of our relations. Our sincere aim is to continue broadening and deepening this partnership and as I have highlighted, there are a number of areas where cooperation can be further enhanced. I will have the opportunity later today to visit the ASEAN Secretariat. Indonesia has been a driving force within ASEAN, promoting regional integration and a rules-based security architecture. The European Union is willing to provide strong support to these efforts. We are ready to share our experiences of more than six decades of European integration, while being fully aware that ASEAN will set its own path, suited for its needs. Let me finish by thanking once again President Widodo for his warm welcome. You can count, Mr. President, on the friendship and cooperation of the European Union in carrying forward your reform agenda at the helm of this vibrant country.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:24:20 +0000