The protection of human rights and the rule of law should be at the very foundations of bilateral and multilateral negotiations between the EU and its Asian partners.
The Party of European Socialists wants to send a clear message to Asian countries, advocating to push ahead with genuine reforms and respect of workers’ rights. The PES calls on the EU to increase efforts to address critical issues, such as poverty, food-security, health and access to basic services.
The EU must also strengthen the cooperation with Australia and New Zealand in the domains of trade, financial regulation and foreign and security policy. The PES believes these countries' relations with Asia and their solid involvement in Asian countries renders them an invaluable bridge instrument between the EU and Asia.
