The Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) and the EU Delegation to Malaysia (EUD) are collaborating to offer the second EU-IDFR Diplomacy Course 2022: 45 Years of the ASEAN-EU Relations and the Road Ahead on 26-28 October 2022.

The three day course will focus on the “EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific which was released by the European Union (EU) on 16 September 2021, which affirms its ambition to play a more proactive role as a foreign policy and security partner in the region, outlining seven priority areas: from trade and connectivity, to security and defence, green transition and environmental governance, as well as technology and cyber domain. The subsequent announcement of the Global Gateway Initiative in December 2021 and the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence in March 2022 complement the Union’s overall strategy towards a more “geopolitical Europe”.

Designed for senior-level ASEAN diplomats, the 2nd EU – IDFR Diplomacy Course aims to raise awareness of the recent initiatives, explore ways to leverage the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership in the evolving Indo-Pacific geopolitical landscape and address concrete opportunities for cooperation – notably in the field of maritime security and connectivity. More details can be found in the agenda below.

EU-IDFR Diplomacy Course Agenda

Some of the key speakers include Giovanni Cremonini, Head of Maritime Security for Security and Defence Policy (SECDEFPOL) at the European External Action Service (EEAS); Sumathy Permal, Senior Fellow and Head of Maritime Security and Diplomacy at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA); Dr Gudrun Wacker, Senior Fellow at the Asia Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP); and Dr Lay Hwee Yeo, Director of the European Union Centre, Singapore.

IDFR is an international centre for training and research in diplomacy and international relations. IDFR aims to enhance the competency and professionalism of diplomatic officers by promoting systematic and relevant training.

The first course was hosted by IDFR in collaboration with the EU Delegation to Malaysia in July 2021. The activity brought together 63 ASEAN diplomats and government officials, as well as 13 experts from Southeast Asia and Europe, to discuss sustainable trade and economic partnerships. This training was so well received, it led IDFR to integrate the course into its annual training curriculum for 2022 and 2023.