The EU and the Indo-Pacific: Influence and opportunities

CLOSED EVENT

The diverse Indo-Pacific region has been recognized as one of the key macroregions for the EU’s external relations. On the one hand, the Indo-Pacific influences the economic and political reality of Europe, including the Czech Republic. On the other hand, the region also offers major opportunities for the EU if it wants to become a more relevant global strategic and economic actor. The conference will explore three interconnected issues related to the EU’s and the Czech Republic's relationship with the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on the themes of mutual influence and shared opportunities.

China is increasingly posing a direct influence on the well-being of Europeans across the continent as a direct competitor of the European companies, affecting profits, employment, and technological reliability of the EU and its member states, among others. Yet, China is also a crucial trade and investment partner of the EU. All of this takes place in the context of bilateral tensions and mistrust, growing out of the political disagreements.

Taiwan, in turn, is a ‘like-minded’ partner of the EU, playing a role in the overall EU-China strategic relations, but also being crucially important in its own right also due to Taiwan’s dominant position in the advanced semiconductor industry.

Southeast Asia is often regarded as a ‘playground’ of great power politics, especially considering the US-China rivalry. The EU can hardly compete as a peer, but it can – and should – increase its status in the region also by playing the role of a trusted development and economic partner.

The Czech Republic can be considered as an important actor in all three of these policy and geographical areas, both within the EU's common approach, but also bilaterally, stemming from a long foreign policy tradition and current priorities and capacities.

Moderated by CEIAS and Palacký University’s experts, the three panels will each bring Czech and international researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to engage in discussions that will bridge the broader EU perspectives with the Czech national ones.

PROGRAM:

Registration (12:30-13:00)

Welcome Remarks (13.00-13:05)

Keynote (13:05-13:30)

David Müller, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic

Panel 1: EU-China relations (13:30-14:45)

Moderator: Richard Turcsanyi, Palacký University Olomouc, Central European Institute of Asian Studies

Discussants: 

Alicja Bachulska, ECFR,

Altynay Junusova, MERICS,

MPO Representative (TBC)

Coffee Break (14:45-15:15)

Panel 2: EU-Taiwan relations (15:15-16:30)

Moderator: Kristina Kironska, Palacký University Olomouc, Central European Institute of Asian Studies

Discussants: 

Quentin Couvreur, SciencesPo CERI

Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

Patrick Rumlar, MFA

Coffee Break (16:30-16:45)

Panel 3: EU-Southeast Asia relations (16:45-18:00)

Moderator: Alfred Gerstl, Palacký University Olomouc, Central European Institute of Asian Studies

Discussants: 

Michaela Kupková, People in Need

Marek Libřický, MFA

David Hutt, CEIAS

Buffet Dinner (18:00)

Registration closed.