Unmovable or Compromising? The European Union vis-à-vis Myanmar via EU-ASEAN: continuity and changes

This paper examines continuity and change in European Union behaviour within its interaction with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with regard to Myanmar. Since the EU used its connections with ASEAN to raise its preoccupations regarding Myanmar, the Association’s behaviour also comes into focus. This investigation is linked to the evolution of the EU in world affairs via its political ties to ASEAN. It concentrates on the rather abrupt change introduced by the reform process launched in 2011-12, which marked the beginning of a new phase. Continuity is observed in the EU’s constant concern that the Myanmar issue did not destabilise its relations with ASEAN. Changes have been identified as following into three different phases. It is maintained that the aspiration to escape from pervasive China and the desirability of new partners were crucial in the realisation of these changes. Official documents from the EU, the European Commission, and European Council Conclusions and Common Positions, declarations issued at ASEAN, Asia-Europe and other meetings, together with secondary sources and interviews conducted mostly in Myanmar, contribute to this work. Many scholars have hinted at the extent to which the case of Myanmar caused problems to the EU-ASEAN links, but no emphasis was laid on the extent to which the Myanmar case has conversely helped to reinforce the long-lasting EU-ASEAN relationship. This is a novelty that is focused on in this paper.