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ASIA/EUROPA UNA NUOVA PARTNERSHIP STRATEGICA: IL FUTURO E’ INIZIATO

Dialogo tra Democratici Asiatici ed Europei

1-3 Dicembre Roma


Final Declaration

1. Strengthening political dialogue, increasing cooperation and integration between Europe and Asia.

We are deeply convinced that Asia and Europe should pursue with commitment a path towards a new strategic partnership able to exercise shared responsibilities and to contribute their respective sets of values and economic, political and security potential towards improved global governance.
We are about to face a new set of global challenges that require new and more advanced forms of cooperation, dialogue, and coordination.
We are faced with great shared opportunities derived from an ever increasing integration of our markets and our economies: Asia and Europe represent together over half  of the world population; 50% of world GDP; and 60% of global trade.  But we also face risks that we must address jointly: international terrorism, new nuclear proliferation, the negative aspects of globalisation, a growing gap between the rich and the poor, environmental degradation and climate changes.  We believe that we shall meet such challenges using a multilateral approach, intensifying our mutual understanding and dialogue.
In this context, we are determined to reinforce the multilateral dialogue through the Asian-European Meetings (ASEM) and view very favourably the development of other forms of regional integration in Asia as well as in Europe: the ASEAN+3, the process towards the creation of a new East Asian community (EAc), and the progress towards a more integrated and enlarged EU.

We deeply appreciate the continuing economic and social growth of India. The success story of India proves that strong economic growth is compatible with a full democratic system, such as India’s. We admire and support the policies implemented by the Indian democratic government and its strive for the modernization of the country.

2. A closer partnership and integration between the European and Asian economies

We take a favourable view of both the growing importance of Asia in the global economy and the economic growth of the European Union.
We shall accelerate the integration between the Asian and European economies, progressing from a purely defensive and protectionist approach to one capable of taking advantage of the opportunities arising from an intelligent integration between the Asian and European economies.
We underline that the European Union is such a strong and solid entity because it is based on common values such as democracy and the respect of human rights. The EU experience can be a model for Asian integration.

Current high oil prices are having a heavy impact on the economic growth of our continents. Asia in particular will experience, in the course of next year, a massive growth in its demand for energy. It is therefore of paramount importance to guarantee to the Asian economies access to energy sources, by means of agreements between States and oil companies, and through conservationist measures, improved energy efficiency, and a broader use of alternative energy sources.
Moreover, Asia and Europe should progressively intensify their relations in the trade sector, the promotion and facilitation of investments, financial cooperation, research, science and technology – especially information technologies-, cultural cooperation, transports, tourism, education, schools, and public health.


3. Promoting a partnership for sustainable development and humane globalisation

The Asian democracies, the European Union, and the United States should define a common strategy following the recent entrance into force of the Kyoto Protocol.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Kyoto Protocol have created the adequate context and a set of rules capable of increasing international cooperation to meet the challenge of climate change.
The promotion of functional mechanisms for “emission trading”, as well as the broader use of renewable energy sources and research on clean energy, is a common strategic interest.
We express the need to ensure the widest possible participation of countries in the Kyoto Protocol and, in the Post-2012 framework, to achieve an effective, cost-efficient and appropriate international response, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. We underline the need for early consultations on actions after 2012, and the need to advance discussion on the post-2012 regime at the next UNFCCC Conference of Parties.

We believe that the Asian democracies, the United States, and the European Union need to put into practice the commitments undertaken to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. In particular, the European Union and the United States should by that date gradually achieve the goal of contributing 0.7% of their GDP to development programmes favouring less developed countries.
To overcome the current difficulties of the international organisations (i.e. the UN, GATT (now WTO), IMF, World Bank), we must promote reforms based upon criteria of efficacy, transparency, accountability, and openness to all issues coming out the developing countries.

While upholding our commitment for free trade and open markets we recognize that human globalizations entails fairer trade rules, especially for developing transitional economies.
We call for a review of unfair subsidees on the part of developed countries that further disadvantages poor countries.

4. International security, fight against terrorism and Crisis Areas

We affirm the need to firmly fight all forms of international terrorism. International terrorism is the greatest threat to peace, security, and international stability. Fighting terrorism requires a collective approach from the international community waged on different fronts
It is necessary to increase the dialogue between NATO and the security forces of the Asian countries, in order to coordinate their capacities to prevent terrorist attacks and gather intelligence.
Also given the positive results reached in Afghanistan, NATO’s role could grow in all the Mediterranean area and in the Middle East with respect to counter-terrorism and non-proliferation goals.
The fight against global terrorism is a priority for prevailing over insecurity in our communities.

The fight against terrorism have to be done under the full respect of International Treaties and fundamental human rights.
Greater effort is therefore necessary to increase the efficacy of political action for preventing and countering terrorism based on shared initiatives to eradicate the underlying causes of instability and underdevelopment that feed an environment favourable to the proliferation of terrorism and on even tighter integration of actions for intelligence-gathering and suppression of this phenomenon.

Therefore, we need to promote a multilateral dialogue focused on the resolution of main crisis areas.

-Iraq
Following, among other developments, the Iraqi elections of January 30, the birth of a new government, and the positive outcome of the referendum on the new Constitution, we view positively the progress achieved in Iraq in accordance with UN Resolution 1546. In this respect, the European and Asian democracies should increase the common effort to stabilise the country and accompany its process towards growth and democratic consolidation.
The European Union will have to increase its own engagement in Iraq, in the field of reconstruction projects, as well as NATO, in the field of training police and other security forces.
The withdrawal of international military forces on the ground should be agreed upon jointly by the coalition and the new and legitimate Iraqi government.  Economic development in Iraq will contribute to increased security and stability in the country.  In this sense, we invite the international community to increase its economic commitment and aid to the Iraqi government.

-Afghanistan
We consider extremely positive the progress reached by Afghanistan with the recent local and parliamentary elections.
We positively judge all efforts by NATO and the other military forces of the international coalition in the framework of their activities deployed to stabilise the country and to fight terrorism.
We believe that Asian and European democracies should continue their effort to disarm all militias in the country, rebuild and develop the economy, fight drug trafficking, and reform the Afghan police and military within the framework established in the Bonn Process.
In addition to the military dimension, the roots of terrorism will be cut off effectively through far-reaching development policies.

-Israel/Palestine
We reaffirm their common and full support to a Road Map whose goal is a process of confidence building with the final objective of the formation of two sovereign States with conditions of mutual security. Within this framework, the Asian and European Democrats welcome the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the initiatives undertaken by the Palestinian Authority to fight and eradicate terrorism.

-Iran
We express concern over recent developments regarding the nuclear programme established by Iran. In agreement with the goal of nuclear non-proliferation, we believe the dialogue between Iran and the EU on the suspension and end of the program for uranium enrichment for non-civilian purposes should be revitalised and sustained.
In the case of unsatisfactory results, further actions that allow for greater diplomatic and economic means to pressure Iran will be needed. 

-Korea
we share the goal of complete denuclearisation of the entire Korean Peninsula and the release of the foreign citizens who have been abducted.  This goal should be reached through negotiation, and through the continuing dialogue under  the Six Party Talks process.
The Asian and European Democrats support every initiative geared to restart the dialogue between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

-WMD
We reaffirm their support for the fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and underscore the need for a multilateral approach and reinforced international cooperation in accordance with UN resolution 1540. 
 
-Cambodia and Burma
Within the framework of programmes promoting democracy and human rights, we support the implementation of the Agreement between the UN and Cambodia about the trial of the Khmer Rouge.
We also invite the international community to increase its pressure to further the development of democracy in the country.
We congratulate the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar for its efforts in promoting Burmese democracy.
We also express great concern with the situation of human rights and democracy in Myanmar, and ask for an immediate release of the Nobel Prize for Peace Aung San Suu Khy.

5. Promoting democracy and human rights.

The abovementioned commitments should be increasingly coordinated with long-term action for the promotion of democracy and human rights.
“Promoting democracy” should become a priority in the political agendas of both the European Union and the Asian democracies, and should significantly influence their foreign policies.
We support new democracies and democracies in transition, and we underline the importance of transparency, good governance and free society in opposition to money politics, corruption and cronyism.  Development programmes should be implemented to support representatives of multi-party systems, vibrant civil society, secular education, protection of human rights, equal opportunities, religious tolerance, and instruments apt to promote freedom of the press from political influence.

Therefore, economic integration but also globalisation of human rights and democracy.

We welcome the recent EU/China Summits and the dialogue on human rights between the EU and China.
The goal of European and Asian democracies should be to increasingly incorporate China into multilateral fora in order to promote further political and economic reforms. 
In this context, technological, economic and commercial cooperation should be accompanied by a constant exchange on respect for human rights and by a closed monitoring of the progress with respect to political, religious, and labour union rights. 
Democratic development and the full respect for fundamental human rights in the PRC can be a stabilising factor for the entire Asian continent, and a positive factor for the relation between China and the rest of the world.
We ask for a peaceful solution of the Taiwan issue and of the reduction of the Cross Strait tensions.
We urge the Chinese Government to respond to the wish of Hong Kong people to have full democracy as soon as possible.

6. Network of Asian and European Democrats

In order to politically promote these shared goals, we decide to establish a “Network of Asian and European Democrats” ( International Alliance of Democrats ) through the creation of a permanent Secretariat for consultation and debate among the Political Parties and Organizations that undersign the present document.