Her Excellency Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, is currently in Singapore to attend the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings.
High Representative Mogherini paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong this afternoon. Prime Minister Lee welcomed the European Union (EU)’s efforts to step up ties with Singapore and ASEAN. They reaffirmed the good relations and robust economic ties between Singapore and the EU. Both sides looked forward to the signing of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement on the sidelines of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in October 2018, and its early ratification thereafter. Once ratified, the agreement will strengthen the bilateral relationship and bring mutual economic benefits. High Representative Mogherini said that the EU hoped to reached an agreement with ASEAN on the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Traffic Agreement (CATA) by the end of this year. Prime Minister Lee welcomed an ambitious CATA which would strengthen ties between the two regions.
High Representative Mogherini also met Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan this evening. They welcomed the growing ties between Singapore and the EU. Minister Balakrishan and High Representative Mogherini said that Singapore and the EU looked forward to working more closely to strengthen ties between the two regions as Singapore takes on the coordinator role for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations for the next three years. They also discussed new possible areas for bilateral and regional cooperation, including cybersecurity and climate change.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
3 AUGUST 2018
Call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini at the Istana on Friday, 3 August 2018. [Photo Credit: Ministry of Communications and Information]
Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini on the sidelines of the 51stASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings on Friday, 3 August 2018. [Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
