The EU’s commitment to enhancing security cooperation with Asia is highlighted in the EU Global Strategy (2016) and the European Council Conclusions (2018), which emphasize the need for more concrete and operational security engagement in the region. The aim is to complement the EU's economic reach by increasing its value as a trusted security partner. This project supports the EU’s Security and Defence Dialogues with six pilot countries—India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam—through practical cooperation, professional exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives. These efforts aim to strengthen relationships, enhance networks, and contribute to political processes.
The project focuses on four priority areas: Counter-Terrorism and Prevention of Violent Extremism (CT/PVE), Cybersecurity, Maritime Security, and Crisis Management. These areas align closely with both EU interests and the opportunities for enhanced cooperation with regional partners. The initiative is implemented jointly by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Expertise France, with co-financing from the German Federal Foreign Office and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The project is structured around three pillars: Policy Dialogue, Cooperation and Capacity Building, and Public Diplomacy, with an emphasis on gender equality and human security as key components throughout the implementation process.
Project Information: The project focuses on enhancing the European Union's security cooperation with six pilot countries in Asia: India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. It aims to foster practical cooperation in four key areas: Counter-Terrorism and Prevention of Violent Extremism (CT/PVE), Cybersecurity, Maritime Security, and Crisis Management. The initiative seeks to promote convergence with EU standards, increase capacity-building, and support the EU's strategic objectives in the region through policy dialogue, operational cooperation, and public diplomacy.
Scope: The project spans multiple domains of security, targeting both regional and global challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. It supports EU Security and Defence Dialogues with partner countries, facilitates exchanges and capacity building, and strengthens international awareness of the EU’s role in global security. The project is guided by the EU’s Partnership Instrument methodology, focusing on flexible, incremental implementation in close coordination with EU institutions and local partners.
Budget: The project is co-financed by the German Federal Foreign Office and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with an overall budget of €2,500,000.