Singapore enjoys good relations with the countries in Europe. Aside from regular exchanges between our leaders, ministers, parliamentarians, and officials, our network of resident embassies and high commissions, non-resident ambassadors and honorary consuls-general helps us maintain and strengthen links with these countries. Singapore cooperates closely with the European Union (EU) and individual EU member states in a wide range of sectors. In recent years, Singapore has also expanded contacts and deepened relations with emerging economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and the Black Sea regions.
Building on their strong economic links, Singapore and the EU signed the landmark EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement and the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (ESPCA) in October 2018. The Agreements were approved by the European Parliament (EP) in February 2019. The EUSFTA will enter into force after both sides complete their internal procedures while the EUSIPA and ESPCA will have to be further ratified by the regional and national parliaments of all EU Member States.
These agreements will facilitate deeper engagement of the EU and broaden our cooperation. Singapore is also a hub for European business in the Asia-Pacific region. There are more than 14,000 European companies in Singapore, many of which use Singapore as their regional headquarters, logistics and distribution centres for the region.
To open up opportunities in emerging markets, Singapore also signed the Turkey-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (TRSFTA) in November 2015, and is currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. These agreements will bolster Singapore’s network of free trade agreements and benefit companies from both sides.
Academic and student exchanges between Singapore and Europe are active, as are collaborations and exchanges among the museums of Singapore and Europe. Singapore also hosts a large community of Europeans, and many European cultural institutions are also well-represented in Singapore.
Some examples of major agreements and events are as follows:
Major Agreements
Events and Exhibitions
ARCTIC COUNCIL
OVERVIEW
In May 2013, Singapore was admitted as an observer to the Arctic Council (AC). The AC, established in 1996, is a high-level governmental forum for discussing political, economic, environmental and scientific issues concerning the governments and inhabitants of the Arctic region. Our admission has provided a new dimension for our relations with AC Member States, namely Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
Our interests in the Arctic include: the protection of the Arctic environment; the development of a safe Arctic region; the economic advancement of the Arctic; the development of human capital in the Arctic; and climate change. As a low-lying island nation, Singapore is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels due to the melting of Arctic ice. In line with these objectives, Singapore has sought to identify areas of convergence between its capabilities and the work of the AC. Singapore participates in a range of Arctic-related fora and also closely engage the indigenous peoples in the Arctic.
Ask MFA