I was at the Finnish Parliament about ten years ago with my AEPF colleagues. Together, we were lobbying the Finish government on the implications of Asian financial crisis, especially its social and human cost. We, from Asia and Europe brought our concerns and our analysis and our solutions on the Asian financial crisis to Finland.

The then Finance Minister gave us a 20 mins. appointment, but having listened to us and our analysis, the meeting went on for about 1 ½ hour. In fact the meeting finished with nice dinner hosted by the Finance Minister.

I would like to share with you that 6^th AEPF took place between the 3^rd -6^th September, 2006. We had about 450 registered participants from 30 countries, representing slightly over 200 NGOs, trade unions, Peoples Organisation, religious groups from Asia and Europe.

We caucused on: a) peace and security; b) democracy and human rights; c) economic security and social rights. Our forum discussed issues surrounding privatization, trade and the Doha round, bi-lateral and regional trade agreements social movements and political parties, migrant issues, environmental rights, participatory democracy: decentralization and local power.

The Forum, among others, made a call for a new, just and equitable Asia-Europe partnership, one based on an equitable social dimension in the ASEM process.

In this context I would like to share with you the views of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who recently told us, that “globalization’s benefits have been unevenly distributed, with many of its burdens falling hardest on those who can least protect themselves…Too many people, particularly in the developing countries, feel excluded and threatened by globalization. They feel that they are the servants of the markets, when it should be the other way around”.

The Finnish President, President Halonen was blunt. She said “we believe that globalization should be a force for a brighter future for all people, unfortunately today’s globalization falls far short of this promise and actually is morally wrong and politically unsustainable.

President Halonen, further added that ‘a fair globalization is not a zero-sum game, but a mutually beneficial process for all its participants”. She proposed that “the burden of change must also be evenly distributed between nations”.

Mr Chairman and friends –

The message is clear. We in the AEPF concur with the world leaders that a) the current trajectory of globalization must change; b) we need a fair, just and inclusive globalization, one that creates opportunities for all. Indeed we need an ASEM process that benefits and creates opportunities for all.

I would like to raise the following concerns for your attention:

After 10 years, we have not seen an ASEM blue-print that promotes opportunities and that benefit all in Asia and Europe. The ASEM has focused on promoting cooperation between governments and representatives of business interests, and its agenda has been geared towards trade, investment, security and political issues. The economic pillar promotes pro-market policies as opposed to alternative people centered policies. ASEM at 10 should be a point of reflection of a commitment to a work programme that ensures that benefits of trade and investment are shared in a just and equitable fashion by all.

In fact, the cornerstone of a fairer ASEM should be a focus on people, specifically meeting the demands of all people: respect for their rights, decent work, icnluding migrant rights, and the empowerment of local communities.

ASEM has a continuing democratic deficit. ASEMs work programme has only limited possibilities for regular democratic scrutiny in parliaments in Asia and Europe including the European Parliament. The ASEM work program and policies should be democratized and made accountable to the various parliaments.

The Philippines consultation in preparation for the ASEM 10 year report stated that civil society groups in the country were not able to engage ASEM because of a lack of knowledge of how ASEM works. The report adds that the civil society groups in the country lack the confidence and access to the ASEM process. The report noted that as a result of being left out NGOs, PO established their alternative forum – the Asia-Europe Peoples Forum.

In fact, the report concludes ASEM has to provide adequate and meaningful space for AEPF in ASEMs work programmes and policies. We in the AEPF welcome such a recommendation.

In this regard, we welcome the recommendation of the joint ASEM tenth year report which calls for an ASEM process which is more participatory and democratic and to include more social issues in a meaningful way. The report notes that the ASEM should engage AEPF and appreciate its contributions. We in the AEPF are committed to engaging ASEM and working with ASEF towards building solidarity between the people of Asia and Europe.

Mr Chairman and friends,

A dramatic development took place in Postdam Germany, earlier this week, where Asian and European labor Ministers were holding their first ever meeting in the context of ASEM. They issued a joint statement entitled: More and Better Jobs – Working Jointly to Strengthen the Social Dimension of Globalization. The Ministers proposed that both European and Asian governments need to formulate “policies to respect and promote human and social rights, particularly those set-out in the ILO Decent work agenda”. These policies need to provide effective social policies, adequate systems of social protection, decent work for all and supporting the anticipation and management of change. The joint statement unambiguously states that “decent work is the key to sustainable productivity and growth”.

Mr Chairman and friends –

What is dramatic about this development is that the push for a social dimension of globalization has been a major demand of NGOs and Trade unions in the last couple of years. ASEM labor ministers have now made a first but important step in the right direction.

It is dramatic, because this was largely a NGO-trade union initiative supported by the Fredrich Ebert Stiftung. If my memory serves me right, I think that this is the first time that AEPF and trade union recommendations reached the Ministers consciousness and transformed into a joint memorandum.

Now, the real work begins. We have to ensure that the Asian and European governments including the EC develop policies, and a work programme that includes periodical reporting, monitoring and implementation mechanism. It should be done at the national levels as well. Otherwise, the joint memorandum will remain just that, a memorandum. Here, AEPF, Asia-Europe Foundation, Asia-Europe Business Council and the ASEM trade unions have an impotent role.

In conclusion, together, we should call on ASEM head of governments who will be gathering this weekend to commit to a social dimension of ASEM that can be realized at all levels of the ASEM process. This could be one way in which the various stakeholders could work together in promoting solidarity, mutual understanding and cooperation between the peoples of Asia and Europe so that globalization benefits all.

Thank for your attention

Contact the author: charlessantiago gmail.com