Hanoi (VNA) – Over the past 35 years, the Vietnam-EU partnership has developed on trust, shared values, and a strong commitment to progress, with cooperation covering trade, sustainable development, innovation, governance, and global security, said EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier.
Vietnam-EU partnership records remarkable development
The diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the EU was established in 1990, focusing initially on a humanitarian programme that helped resettle over 100,000 Vietnamese who fled by sea.
Thirty-five years on, cooperation between the two sides has expanded across fields, including trade, the environment, energy, science - technology, governance, cultural exchange, migration, anti-corruption, combating organised-crimes, as well as peace and security.
Vietnam has become an increasingly important partner of the EU, sharing a strong commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order. In 2016, the two sides signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), laying the foundation for the bilateral relations ever since.
In 2019, the two sides signed the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA), allowing Vietnam to take part in EU-led missions and operations. This was the first such agreement the EU has signed with an ASEAN country, marking a significant step forward in their joint efforts to contribute to global peace and security.
The progress achieved together is best exemplified by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) – the EU’s first agreement with a developing country – elevating economic relations between the two sides to an unprecedented level, Gurrierr said.
According to the diplomat, the Vietnam-EU relations rest on three pillars – economic and trade cooperation, highlighted by the EVFTA, climate action, and security and defence cooperation.
He noted that since the EVFTA took effect in 2020, the Vietnam-EU trade has grown by approximately 40%.
For climate action, both EU and Vietnam have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. They have implemented the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), under which EU countries are investing over 15 billion EUR in Vietnam, while Vietnam has pledged to gradually phase out coal power and adjust legal frameworks to attract private investment in renewable energy.
Regarding security and defence cooperation, the FPA has enabled EU military experts to train Vietnam’s peacekeeping forces, while Vietnam has sent officers to join EU-led peacekeeping missions.
In addition, the two sides have cooperated closely in areas of circular economy, forest management, and people-to-people exchanges.
Cooperation in lifting EC’s “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood exports
Guerrier affirmed that the EU has consistently supported Vietnam’s long-term and sustainable development goals, serving as a reliable, prestigious, and stable partner, not only over the past 35 years but also in the upcoming upgrade of their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will open new areas of cooperation, including innovation, semiconductors, and critical raw materials.
This will be an important milestone, reflecting the depth and development of the bilateral relationship, the diplomat said, expressing his hope that in the coming months, on the occasion of a high-level visit by European leaders to Vietnam, the upgrade of the partnership will be implemented.
The ambassador affirmed that the EU fully supports Vietnam’s aspirations to build a green, sustainable, and digital economy. He stated that through the JETP, the EU and Vietnam are cooperating to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable growth, helping Vietnam achieve a fair, inclusive, and environmentally-responsible energy transition.
According to the diplomat, Vietnam needs to better leverage benefits brought by the EVFTA to fully and effectively implement its bilateral commitments.
Vietnam should provide a more convenient, swift, and transparent environment for investors, he said, adding that EuroCham Vietnam has offered many valuable recommendations in this area, and the EU business community, its member states, and the EU as a whole are ready to accompany and support Vietnam on this promising development journey.
Discussing efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Guerrier welcomed Vietnam’s legal reforms to meet international standards, emphasising that the two sides will cooperate to lift the IUU “yellow card” as soon as possible./.
