FM Macinka calls for equal EU-ASEAN partnership

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists' Party) has urged the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to build a genuinely balanced partnership, reflecting Asia’s growing economic weight. Speaking at a joint meeting in Brunei, he highlighted ASEAN’s rapid development and the global shift toward Asia. Macinka stressed stronger connectivity in transport, digital networks and people-to-people ties, pointing to the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. He also called for cooperation on resilient supply chains, especially in critical raw materials and advanced industries. According to him, recent crises show globalization must adapt, creating new opportunities for closer EU-ASEAN collaboration.