ASEAN-EU Europe Calls On All Countries To Maintain Pupuk Stability

JAKARTA - The results of the 24th Meeting of the Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) which took place in Brussels, Belgium, called on all countries to maintain fertilizer stability in order to maintain food security.

We are aware of the importance of food and nutrition security. We reaffirm our commitment and call on all countries to encourage the smooth flow of goods and agricultural inputs to be important globally, including fertilizers, to ensure price stability and food security in the global market," according to a Joint Statement of the Minister, quoted from Antara, Saturday, February 3.

Security and stability in the Black Sea were also agreed as one of the efforts to realize price stability and food security, especially in terms of sustainable grain exports. So that ASEAN and EU carefully pay attention to efforts to facilitate the export of grains and other agricultural products.

The meeting further supported the holding of the Third Meeting of the Joint Palm Oil and Technical Webinars Working Groups between the European Union and ASEAN, as an effort to encourage understanding of sustainable vegetable oil production and address challenges in the palm oil sector in a holistic, transparent and non-discriminatory manner.

We look forward to holding the Fourth Joint Working Group on Palm Oil between the European Union and relevant ASEAN Member countries. We note that the relevant producing countries and the EU have formed a Joint Task Force to strengthen cooperation in implementing EU Deforestation Regulations," the joint statement said.

Not only that, the two regions also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and encouraging peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation inside and above the South China Sea as regulated in international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

ASEAN and the EU encourage all countries to avoid unilateral actions that endanger peace, security and stability in the region and emphasize the need to maintain and encourage a conducive environment for negotiations on the Code of Ethics in the South China Sea (COC).

We reiterate the need to increase mutual trust and belief, refrain from doing all activities and avoiding actions that can increase tensions and risk of accidents, misunderstandings, and miscalculations, as well as seek to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with applicable regulations. with universally recognized international law principles, including UNCLOS 1982, "said the statement.

ASEAN and the EU also agreed that sustainable connectivity is a top priority in inter-regional relations and must contribute to accelerating digital and energy transitions.

ASEAN also encourages EU support for the ASEAN Electricity Network Initiative in providing capacity and expertise development for an integrated Southeast Asian power grid system.