The Netherlands and ASEAN

We work together across all three the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pillars: political security, economical cooperation, and social culture. The ASEAN and the Netherlands are reliable friends and natural partners. In 2022, the Netherlands acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). And in 2023, the Netherlands was granted the status of ASEAN Development Partner, in recognition of our existing cooperation and with the intention of strengthening our ties. 

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Diplomatic training for ASEAN Member States

The Netherlands is providing various diplomatic training programs for ASEAN since 2010. Annually, the Netherlands Institute for Foreign Relations Clingendael organizes a program for diplomats of ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat, on general diplomatic skills.

ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation

The Embassy of the Netherlands is active in promoting peace, security, and stability in the region, together with partners. One valuable partnership lies with the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation.

Yearly we organize a celebration of International Peace Day with ASEAN. Through different activities such as panels, student dialogues, and policy briefing competitions, the role of youth in peacebuilding is highlighted.

In 2023, ASEAN ambassadors, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, and students were invited to the Erasmus Huis. The students shared their thoughts and ideas on the Indonesian National Action Plan for Youth, Peace, and Security after listening to experts from the Philippines. 
 

EU-SHARE and SCOPE HE

The Netherlands is also active in working together with ASEAN through the EU. The project European Union Support for Higher Education (EU-SHARE) in the ASEAN Region was launched in 2015. The aim was to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance the quality, competitiveness, and internationalization of higher education institutions and students in ASEAN. There are 32 universities in the ASEAN member states and 10 universities in Europe connected to the project. Nuffic, a Dutch organization working on internationalization in education, has been implementing the project for over seven years.

Nuffic Southeast Asia will soon embark on the implementation of the new EU-funded Sustainable Connectivity Package Higher Education (SCOPE HE) program. SCOPE HE will aim to strengthen human connections between ASEAN and the EU by focusing on gender equality, women's empowerment, digital skills, and green skills within the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC). Through this initiative, individuals, institutions, and societies in both regions will benefit from enhanced knowledge-sharing, inclusive practices, and a more robust global partnership.