European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
About 501,000 results (August 2017)
Source/publisher:
Various sources via Youtube
Date of entry/update:
2017-08-22
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
more
Description:
Burma Day 2005 - Selected Documents...
Supporting Burma/Myanmar?s National Reconciliation Process - Challenges and Opportunities... Brussels, Tuesday 5th April 2005... Most of the papers and reports focus on the "Independent Report" written for the conference by Robert Taylor and Morten Pedersen. They range from macroeconomic critique to historical and procedural comment.
Source/publisher:
European Commission
Date of entry/update:
2005-04-06
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Economy: general, analytical, statistical (various sources), Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, The discussion on humanitarian assistance to Burma, European Union humanitarian assistance
Language:
English
more
Description:
EBO Political Monitors...Research papers: reports, statements and press releases...EBO Briefing Papers...News
Source/publisher:
Euro-Burma Office
Date of entry/update:
2012-02-02
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
News - Commentary/analysis about Burma/Myanmar, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Language:
English
more
Description:
"What can Myanmar?s chairmanship learn from the European Union members? divided position on external affairs, such as the deep, public disagreements associated with the Iraq war, the incapacity to produce collective action during the EU?s reaction to the 2011 Libyan crisis, and again the unwillingness to share a common initiative in response to the more recent developments in Mali? It is a discouraging question, particularly in the light of the EU High Representative?s apparent obsession with the ?reality of 27 member states who are sovereign, who believe passionately in their right to determine what they do?, as Ashton argued in 2011. As disagreements within the European Union have seriously damaged the relations among the member states as well as the political development of the EU as a whole, a major message from a European view lies in the conviction that divisions weaken any project of integration and the attempt to create a united community, which ASEAN plans to achieve by 2015..."
Ludovica Marchi
Source/publisher:
"New Mandala"
Date of publication:
2014-05-13
Date of entry/update:
2014-07-14
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English
more
Individual Documents
Description:
"The UN Security Council's EU member states called Tuesday for Myanmar to bring to justice those who have carried out human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims.
France, Estonia, Germany and Belgium urged Myanmar to comply with measures meant to prevent genocide set forth by the International Court of Justice, in a joint statement issued following a closed-door Security Council meeting.
The text was also signed by former Security Council member and EU state Poland. But it marked the first time the EU members have issued a joint Security Council statement without Britain, which exited the union on Friday.
Britain was among the countries that requested the meeting on Myanmar, alongside France, Germany, Belgium and the United States.
China, an indispensable ally for Myanmar, opposed issuing a joint declaration by the entire council, according to a diplomatic source.
"Myanmar must address the root causes of its conflicts," the joint statement said, urging the southeast Asian nation to take "credible action to bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations."
"Myanmar must also create conditions for and facilitate a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Myanmar," they said..."
Source/publisher:
"The News International" (Pakistan)
Date of publication:
2020-02-05
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first), Discrimination against the Rohingya, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Language:
more
Sub-title:
US, EU and Japan are all mounting economic, financial and strategic counters to China’s peaceful rise narrative
Description:
"Days before China started to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its people’s republic, communist leaders issued a policy declaration entitled “China and the World in the New Era” which hailed “a development path with Chinese characteristics.”
Reporting on the document’s release on September 27, the state-run Global Times newspaper opined that “China has grown into a giant” that has taken aim at “Western logic – that a country is destined to seek hegemony after becoming strong.”
That, according to the Global Times, “does not apply to China” and its strictly peaceful, not confrontational, rise. China is only interested in global development and “win-win cooperation”, the paper asserted.
While no one would dispute that China’s people’s republic has emerged into an economic and political superpower on its 70th anniversary, the paper’s other conclusions are not generally shared by rival powers..."
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication:
2019-10-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), China-Burma-US relations, Japan-Burma relations
Language:
more
Description:
"Myint Thu, Myanmar ambassador to Japan, expressed thanks for Japan’s stance of voting on the draft resolution on “Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” tabled by the European Union (EU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 26 September 2019 at the 42nd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, during his meeting with Mr. Wakamiya Kenji, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the latter’s office on September 30.
The draft resolution tabled by the EU and the OIC was put to a vote at the 47-member Human Rights Council held in Geneva where seven countries including Japan did not support the resolution and abstained in the voting.
At the session of the United Nation Human Rights Council, the representative of Japan felt disappointed at the insufficient time for scrutinizing the draft resolution. Transparency is needed in the draft resolution. Japan’s recommendations have not been found in the draft resolution. Therefore, Japan did not support the draft resolution and abstained in the voting, according to the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 27..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2019-10-04
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-29
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Japan-Burma relations, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
more
Sub-title:
On 23 April 2012, the European Union (EU) suspended its sanctions against Burma/Myanmar in response to a series of domestic political reforms that have been enacted since Thein Sein became the new president in March 2011.
Description:
"Since March 2011, Burma/Myanmar has witnessed a liberalization of the press, the release of political prisoners and the initiation of a political dialogue between the regime on the one hand and the opposition and ethnic groups on the other. The reforms culminated in by-elections on 1 April 2012, which in turn resulted in a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). Overall, political reforms in Burma/Myanmar are being initiated from “above.” They are elite-driven and stem from the president and progressive members of the military-dominated party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
Political reforms in Myanmar are a regime reaction to both internal and external factors. Internally, the military felt secure enough to embark on the slow liberalization of the political system. Externally, the growing economic presence of China seems to have worried the generals..."
Source/publisher:
"GIGA Institute of Asian Studies" (Germany)
Date of publication:
2012-04-23
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
313.43 KB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"When Min Aung Hlaing, head of the Burmese military, launched his military offensive against Rohingya civilians in August 2017, there was international outrage. One year on, the European Union (EU) has yet to implement a single practical sanction or other action to hold Min Aung Hlaing to account for his crimes.
In a submission to the British Parliament?s Foreign Affairs Committee, Burma Campaign UK detailed the role the EU played in enabling the crisis, amounting to complicity. By consistently backing down over the rights of the Rohingya since 2012, the EU sent a signal to the military that it considered the Rohingya expendable and would not act on abuses against them. It was a green light to Min Aung Hlaing. Despite what the United Nations describes as ethnic cleansing and possible genocide, one year on, the EU approach to the Burmese government and military remains barely changed..."
Source/publisher:
Burma Campaign UK
Date of publication:
2018-08-20
Date of entry/update:
2018-08-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description:
Conclusions: "Widespread land conflicts and pending land governance reform, also in relation to the larger
ongoing peace process, form the key reason for opposition to the pending EU-Myanmar IPA.
As previously explained, land rights are not well established and populations living or working
on land acquired for large-scale investment projects have protested over forced evictions, loss
of livelihoods, inadequate consultation and compensation. Land governance reform is
expected and wanted, as well as larger governance reform in the context of the peace process,
although the breadth and depth of these remain unknown.
In addition to the need for protection of land-related human rights, and the need for policy
space, Myanmar at present has limited institutional capacity to implement stringent
commitments, due to which it may fail to effectively enforce IPA measures. There is limited
intra-government information sharing and coordination, which could unintentionally expose
the country to expensive litigation risks. Combined with the umbrella clause included in the
agreement, this may increase the vulnerability of host states to litigation under investment
treaties.
Ultimately, a lot of the discussion around investment protection comes down to a political
discussion about development trajectories. Like one respondent also noted, ?This IPA will be
fine for Myanmar as long as it wants to continue what starts to look more and more as a
neoliberal development policy. If they stay within the neoliberal paradigm, there will not be
problems. But if one day they want to adopt massive land reform, they will run into
trouble.”164 This also explains the position of some of the private stakeholders consulted, who
emphasize Myanmar simply needs more investment if it wants to reduce poverty, and that
this larger picture may sometimes have to overrule smaller issues. In short, different people
have different visions for Myanmar?s future.
However, given the NLD Economic Policy vision of the government is supposedly ?peoplecentred,
and aims to achieve inclusive and continuous development, and that it aims to
establish an economic framework that supports national reconciliation, based on the just
balancing of sustainable natural resource mobilization and allocation across the States and
Region”165, there may indeed be issues with specific IPA provisions in the future, for which
intensified lobby at this stage is warranted..."
Source/publisher:
ACT-Alliance
Date of publication:
2017-04-19
Date of entry/update:
2017-05-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Law and policy on land in Burma/Myanmar, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
919.5 KB
more
Description:
"Das von der Burma-Initiative herausgegebene Briefing Papier setzt seinen Fokus auf die Rolle der EU in Myanmar, die von einer Reihe von Faktoren wie der strikten EU-Sanktionspolitik sowie den starken Verschiebungen der globalen Kräfteverhältnisse geprägt ist. Die Verschränkung dieser Faktoren hat die EU in Myanmar in eine Position manövriert, die sich in charakteristischer Weise von der Rolle der EU in anderen Ländern und Regionen unterscheidet. Eine Analyse von Wolfram Schaffar..."
Wolfram Schaffar
Source/publisher:
Stiftung Asienhaus (Burma Briefing 7/2015)
Date of publication:
2015-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2016-01-25
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Deutsch, German
more
Description:
Abstract: "What is the European Union (EU) trying to achieve in Myanmar?
Is the EU speaking with one voice and acting collectively (and does
it really matter)? Were the sanctions lifted too early? These are some of
the key questions surrounding the current role of the EU in relation to
Myanmar. A close analysis of the EU?s Myanmar policy demonstrates
that, while clearly driven by normative convictions, the EU?s approach
and posture vis-à-vis Myanmar since 1988 has been more reactive than
carefully planned and strategised. Whereas in the period from 1988 until
early 2011 the EU?s Myanmar policy frequently fluctuated between a
?carrot” and a ?stick” approach, depending on the circumstances, since
2011 the emphasis has been on carrots, which signifies an important
shift in the application of normative power. The EU has generously
provided large amounts of aid intended mainly to assist Myanmar in its
transition. This approach does not seem to factor in the possibility of
backward steps and is based on a scenario of ongoing, linear political and
economic reforms. This optimism is shared by both the European
Commission and most EU member states. However, the similar perceptions
and compatible normative foundations on which their policies are
based have so far not translated into well-coordinated and coherent
strategies and development cooperation programmes.".....
Keywords: Myanmar, European Union, sanctions
Jörn Dosch, Jatswan S. Sidhu
Source/publisher:
Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs , 34, 2
Date of publication:
2015-09-04
Date of entry/update:
2015-10-07
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
229.65 KB
Local URL:
more
Description:
"EU foreign ministers agreed Monday to lift the last of the bloc?s trade, economic and individual sanctions against Myanmar, hailing "a new chapter" with the once pariah state.
Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, pictured in Luxembourg on April 22, 2013. Photo: European Union
Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, pictured in Luxembourg on April 22, 2013. Photo: European Union
"In response to the changes that have taken place and in the expectation that they will continue, the Council [of ministers] has decided to lift all sanctions with the exception of the embargo on arms," said a statement approved without a vote.
"The EU is willing to open a new chapter in its relations with Myanmar/Burma, building a lasting partnership," it added.
The European Union began easing sanctions against Myanmar a year ago as the military, in power for decades, progressively ceded power to civilians and implemented wholesale reforms of the economy.
Ministers noted, however, that there were "still significant challenges to be addressed", in particular an end to hostilities in Kachin State and improving the plight of the Rohingya people..."
Source/publisher:
Mizzima
Date of publication:
2013-04-23
Date of entry/update:
2013-04-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
European Union-Burma relations -- official links and documents, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Language:
English
more
Description:
Abstract:
"Last August, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a reassessment of the U.S. stance towards Burma from the previous policy of disengagement. Bearing the U.S. policy reassessment in mind, now would be a good time for the EU to reassess its own Burma policy. A necessary first step would be to reconsider sanctions which may be technically effective but highly ineffective in accomplishing their stated aims."
Oscar Bergman, Andreas Mälarstedt
Source/publisher:
Institute for Security & Development Policy (Policy Brief 20)
Date of publication:
2010-02-26
Date of entry/update:
2010-11-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Abstract:
"When it comes to sanctions against Myanmar, Western public debate has crystallized broadly into two schools of thought – either in favor of sanctions, as a reflection of a moral position, or against sanctions because of their perceived lack of overall effectiveness. This policy brief suggests a more targeted and evidence-based approach. To begin with it is essential to have a clear and precise understanding of what sanctions should accomplish as well as knowledge of the actual impact of those sanctions on the ground. Equally important is to thereafter promptly dismantle any misguided measures while maintaining and reinforcing those measures that work according to the objectives. Finally, the flow of information to the international community must concern the actual impact of sanctions rather than rhetoric and propaganda."
Agnes Frittin, Niklas Swanström
Source/publisher:
Institute for Security & Development Policy (Policy Brief 32)
Date of publication:
2010-06-02
Date of entry/update:
2010-11-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
1. Ministerial meeting
2. The EU position on Myanmar
3. EU-Asean relations
1. Ministerial meeting Fifteen foreign ministers from the European Union (EU) and 10 from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are due to meet for two days in the Laos capital of Vientiane beginning December 11 - their first gathering since talks were suspended in 1997.
Fred Thurlow
Source/publisher:
Asia Times Online
Date of publication:
2000-12-09
Date of entry/update:
2010-10-14
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Overview lists Political Context; Legal basis of EU relations; Trade/Economic Issues; Community Aid, General data.
Other sections include: Conclusions of the General Affairs & External Relations Council (GAERC),
Updates on the EU position.
Source/publisher:
European Commission
Date of publication:
2003-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-10-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
European Union foreign ministers have renewed the bloc?s "Common Position" on Burma, extending existing sanctions until April 2011.
In a statement released April 26, the European Council expressed "serious concerns" that the recently published election laws "do not provide for free and fair elections" and restated its call "for the release of the political prisoners and detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi."
Simon Roughneen
Source/publisher:
The Irrawaddy
Date of publication:
2010-05-03
Date of entry/update:
2010-10-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
I. Introduction
For nearly twenty years, Burma has posed a seemingly insurmountable
challenge to the international community. The former
democracy is mired in economic and social stagnation, and its people
are controlled by a repressive and abusive military regime. Faced with
these obstacles, world leaders have struggled to develop an appropriate
response. The United States has imposed an import and investment
ban; the European Union and Japan have chosen more limited ?targeted?
sanctions. Still others such as China and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have tried active engagement and
cooperation. Despite these efforts, former Czech Republic President
V?clav Havel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who pressed for action
on Burma in the U.N. Security Council, said that the country?s ?troubles
are causing serious and possibly permanent problems that go well
beyond human rights violations . . . [it] has now become a problem for
the region and international community.?1
Robert L. Howse, Jared M. Genser
Source/publisher:
HOWSE&GENSER FTP 3_C.DOC
Date of publication:
2008-09-19
Date of entry/update:
2010-10-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Abstract:
"Since the 1990 imposition of an arms embargo, the European Union has kept on furthering its sanction policies towards Burma?s military regime in response to its poor record on human rights and authoritarian rule over the country. However, more than a decade after the 1996 EU Common Position on Burma, the European approach to the Burmese conundrum has still failed to achieve its initial objective of facilitating a transition to democracy and of stimulating aid and development in the country. This article seeks to underline the limits of the EU position by highlighting the internal and external obstacles the Europeans have been facing in their policymaking process towards Burma. It is argued that the varied and multiple interests of the 27 EU members; an influential European public opinion favouring an attitude of ostracism; and misunderstandings or miscalculations in appreciating the current state of Burmese affairs have hindered the EU from playing an efficacious role. Moreover these factors also impede its reappraisal."
Keywords: Burma - Common position - Engagement - EU foreign policy - Myanmar - Ostracism - Sanctions
Renaud Egreteau
Source/publisher:
Springer Netherlands ("East Asia", Volume 27, Number 1 / March, 2010)
Date of publication:
2009-09-09
Date of entry/update:
2010-07-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"The European Union's Myanmar policy has been paved with good intentions. The intention has been to help establish a legitimate, democratically elected civilian government in Myanmar. This would end repression, violation of fundamental freedoms and lead to prosperity. These are no small objectives and they are all published in the Council Conclusions and Presidency Statements. In addition to this, the personal interest of political leaders and the impact of European advocacy groups have lead to the perception that they are on "the right side of history"...
One part of the positively-intended EU policy has been the imposition of sanctions. The existing ar-ray of sanctions are 1) unilaterally imposed as a result of the EU Common Policy; 2) unilaterally imposed by the EU through statutory regulations; and 3) informal sanctions applied by individual EU countries. All EU sanc-tions against Myanmar are autonomous measures, i.e. not endorsed by the UN. Apart from the US and Canada, whose sanctions are similar, there is no state or region that has the same comprehensive sanctions regime as the EU.
EU sanctions against Myanmar have been a long line of failures, as most sanctions are. What we see today in Myanmar is not a weakened government and political change, but stronger governmental control of resources and people, and increased interaction with, and influence of primarily China, but also India, Thailand, Russia and other actors, with the marginalization of European inter-action and influence. This was not what the EU sought. An open-minded analysis needs to be made by the EU regarding the continuation of the its sanctions policy..."
Agnes Frittin, Niklas Swanström
Source/publisher:
Institute for Security and Development Policy (Sweden)
Date of publication:
2010-01-20
Date of entry/update:
2010-02-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"Since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations? (Asean) inclusion of Burma in its regional grouping back in July of 1997, the European Union (EU) has cancelled bilateral meetings with Asean because of concerns over the Burmese government?s poor human rights record. But for now, the impasse between the EU and Asean over Burma has passed, and the delayed 13th Asean-EU Meeting is planned to be held in Bangkok..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 6 No. 6
Date of publication:
1998-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2009-04-17
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
La conditionnalit?, de par sa nature essentiellement politique, a souvent ?t? ?tudi?e par
des politologues plut?t que par des juristes. Ce constat est attribuable ? l?absence d?une
r?glementation juridique internationale relative ? la conditionnalit?, et ? sa mise en oeuvre de
nature essentiellement ad hoc, et non syst?matique. Tous les Etats n?appliquent pas la
conditionnalit? politique, ni ne l?appliquent-ils tous de mani?re homog?ne; et encore moins y
sont-ils tous soumis ?quitablement. La conditionnalit? est toujours subordonn?e ? des
exigences g?opolitiques, strat?giques, commerciales et ?conomiques.1
Beaucoup d?arguments peuvent ?tre mobilis?s contre la conditionnalit?: le principe de
non ing?rence, la critique du n?ocolonialisme, le relativisme culturel, etc. Toutefois, la
n?cessit? de prot?ger et de promouvoir les droits de l?homme peut suffire ? la l?gitimer, pour
le moins d?un point de vue conceptuel. D?un point de vue juridique, reste encore ? prouver la
l?galit? de cette pratique dans le droit international. L?argument principal ? cet effet r?side
dans l?article 2.1. du Pacte International sur les Droits civils et Politiques, ratifi? par la
communaut? internationale, lequel sugg?re que tous les Etats parties prennent des initiatives,
notamment par l?interm?diaire de l?aide internationale et de la coop?ration, pour parvenir ? la
r?alisation compl?te des droits reconnus dans le Pacte.2
La Communaut? europ?enne, au sortir de la Guerre Froide, adopte une nouvelle
conception du d?veloppement et de sa mise en oeuvre ; une conception plus lib?rale, et qui
engage davantage la responsabilit? des PVD dans le processus de d?veloppement. Dans ce
contexte surgit la notion de conditionnalit? politique de l?aide : d?sormais, l?aide est d?livr?e
? condition que les pays r?cipiendaires s?engagent ? respecter les droits fondamentaux et les
principes d?mocratiques.
L?aide au d?veloppement communautaire n?a pas toujours impliqu? cette notion de
m?rite ; nous le verrons dans la premi?re partie. Les bases juridiques sur lesquelles a ?t?
con?ue la politique d?aide au d?veloppement communautaire jusque dans les ann?es 1990
datent du Trait? de Rome. Les relations avec les ? pays et territoires d?outre mer ?
constituaient ? l??poque une partie substantielle du Trait?, de mani?re ? assurer la p?rennit?
des relations entre les m?tropoles europ?ennes et leurs colonies une fois leur ind?pendance
acquise. La conception des relations entre les PVD et la CEE a donc ?t? durablement marqu?e
par les dispositions du Trait? de Rome. G?ographiquement, cela signifiait des relations z?l?es avec les pays ACP (regroupant, plus ou moins, les ex PTOM ), dans le cadre des Conventions
successives de Lom? ; et des relations tardives et modestes avec les PVD non associ?s, selon
la terminologie r?v?latrice de la r?glementation communautaire. Politiquement, les
Conventions de Lom? r?glaient la coop?ration au d?veloppement communautaire avec les
pays ACP sur base d?une relation neutre, sans condition politique ou ?conomique pr?alable.
L??chec de cette politique appara?t de plus en plus flagrant apr?s la crise de la dette et
l?incapacit? des ?conomies en d?veloppement, surtout des pays ACP, ? s?ins?rer dans le
syst?me ?conomique mondial globalis?. A la m?me ?poque, la fin de la Guerre Froide voit les
d?mocraties lib?rales occidentales triompher. L?Union Europ?enne est cr??e en 1992 sur base
des principes lib?raux d??conomie de march?, de bonne gouvernance, de d?mocratie et de
respect des droits de l?homme. D?sormais, ces principes impr?gneront la politique ext?rieure
communautaire d?finie dans le cadre de la PESC. Les relations communautaires avec les PVD
doivent ?tre revues dans cette optique lib?rale. La nouvelle politique des droits de l?homme va
?tre mise en oeuvre ? travers la conditionnalit? politique de l?aide au d?veloppement.
D?sormais, la politique de d?veloppement ne doit plus ?tre consid?r?e de mani?re
isol?e mais comme un ?l?ment de la politique ext?rieure communautaire.3 Nous l?
observerons, en analysant les relations r?gionales eurasiatiques, dans la deuxi?me partie. Le
partenariat avec l?ANASE a une port?e allant de la coop?ration commerciale, ?conomique et
politique ? la coop?ration au d?veloppement. Le dialogue intergouvernemental au sein de
l?ASEM (qui r?unit les 27 membres de l?UE et 16 pays asiatiques dont la Chine, le Japon,
l?Inde, la Cor?e du Sud et les pays membres de l?ANASE ) a aussi un dessein
multidimensionnel, confrontant les diff?rentes parties relativement ? leurs politiques
?trang?re, ?conomique et financi?re.
Dans la quatri?me partie, nous ?tudierons le cas de la conditionnalit? politique
appliqu?e ? la Birmanie, gouvern?e depuis 40 ans par une junte militaire devenue la b?te noire
de la communaut? internationale. Depuis 1997, la Birmanie ne b?n?ficie plus de pr?f?rences
tarifaires pour ses exportations vers l?UE. Pas plus ne dispose-t-elle aujourd?hui de l?aide
communautaire au d?veloppement. Apres une pr?sentation g?n?rale du pays et son histoire
contemporaine, nous tenterons d??valuer les effets de la strat?gie communautaire dans le cas
birman et l?opportunit? d?appliquer la conditionnalit? politique (et les sanctions qu?elle
implique) pour mener un pays ? se r?former et ? se d?velopper.
Louise Culot
Source/publisher:
Universit? Libre de Bruxelles
Date of publication:
2007-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2007-10-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Multilateral economic development assistance, Sanctions, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Human Rights and international relations, EU economic development assistance
Language:
Francais, French
Format :
pdf
Size:
481.21 KB
Local URL:
more
Description:
Despite some engagement in 2005, the EU is not softening its stance on Burma..
"Recent EU activities have raised eyebrows among Burmese democracy advocates: the opening of a Burmese embassy in Brussels; the opening of an office in Rangoon of the European Community Humanitarian Office; the visit to Rangoon of an EU mission to unveil an EU Country Strategy Paper for Burma outlining its aid strategy for 2007-13; and the commissioning at the beginning of 2005 of Robert Taylor, dubbed by many a Rangoon regime apologist, to write an EU policy review paper. These events all seem to indicate a relaxing of the EU?s policy towards Burma at a time when the military dictatorship itself seems to be hardening its stand on democracy and human rights. What is happening and what can we expect in 2006?
If the ruling junta thinks it can expect an easy time from the EU in 2006, it is sadly mistaken. The EU?s Common Position on Burma has not changed and will not change in the foreseeable future. Unless, and until, the situation of a lack of democracy and human rights in Burma improves, there can be no way to change the Common Position. Even though certain countries like Austria, France, Germany and Italy are sometimes cited as ?friends? of the regime, there is no country in the 25-nation EU which can support the regime?s repressive policies. The Common Position is exactly that. It reflects the consensus view of the EU. Each country stands by it without exception..."
Harn Yawnghwe
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 14, No. 1
Date of publication:
2006-01-00
Date of entry/update:
2006-05-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Zu Beginn der neunziger Jahre reagierten die EU und die USA auf die 1988 erfolgte Machtübernahme des Militärs in Birma und die Nichtanerkennung des 1990 errungenen Wahlsiegs der Opposition mit der öffentlichen Verurteilung dieses Regimes und einer Reihe wirtschaftlicher und politischer Sanktionen. Die ASEAN-Staaten wie auch UNO-Generalsekretär Kofi Annan setzten hingegen auf eine Strategie des »konstruktiven Engagements«, die durch einen intensiven Dialog mit der Regierung in Rangun den Weg zu politischen Reformen zu ebnen versuchte. Beide Strategien haben bislang nicht zu den beabsichtigten Ergebnissen geführt.
Ausgangspunkt dieser Studie ist daher die Frage, welche Faktoren zu jener fast unauflöslich erscheinenden Konfrontation zwischen der Militärregierung einerseits und der birmanischen Opposition sowie den westlich orientierten Staaten andererseits geführt haben und welche Strategie von außen, vor allem von der EU, entwickelt werden sollte, um eine Neugestaltung der politischen Machtverhältnisse und eine Verbesserung der mehr als desolaten Lebensverhältnisse vieler Einwohner Birmas zu erzielen.
Die Studie kommt zu dem Schluß, daß die politische und wirtschaftliche Krise Birmas nur durch einen langfristigen und umfassenden Transformationsprozeß bewältigt werden kann, in dem Veränderungen der sozioökonomischen Basis und der politischen Strukturen eng miteinander zu verknüpfen sind. Von Seiten des Auslands - nicht zuletzt der EU - kann und sollte dieser Transformationsprozeß nach Kräften und in den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen gefördert werden. Hierbei müssen positive Anreize und Druck einander nicht ausschließen, sondern es wäre im jeweiligen Einzelfall zu prüfen, ob eine Zusammenarbeit möglich und nützlich erscheint oder aber verweigert werden muß.
Ways out of isolation, Burma's national and international reconciliation process, transition and democratisation
Gerhard Will
Source/publisher:
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
Date of publication:
2003-08-00
Date of entry/update:
2005-07-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, Constructive Engagement, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Dialogue/reform/transition in Burma/Myanmar - analyses and statements
Language:
Deutsch, German
more
Description:
"Sanctions will stay, but aid programs win support...
Differences between the European Union and Asian governments over how best to deal with Burma?s military junta may soon be a distant memory.
As Asean gets tougher with Burma?s generals, the EU is taking another look at its long-standing policy of isolating Rangoon.
Demonstrators protest against the Burma Day meeting
EU sanctions against the military rulers will stay in place. But the 25 nation bloc is also working on an unprecedented aid strategy for Burma, including funding for health, education and poverty alleviation projects.
The EU?s determination to provide assistance for Burma?s long-suffering population was highlighted at a ?Burma Day? meeting organized in Brussels by the European Commission in early April..."
Shada Islam
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 13, No. 4
Date of publication:
2005-04-00
Date of entry/update:
2005-04-29
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
European Union humanitarian assistance, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Language:
English
more
Description:
Table of contents:
Foreword;
Introduction;
1. European Union?s foreign policy, human rights and economics.
1.1. European Union?s promotion of human rights.
1.2. Legal base of sanctions in the European Union?s foreign policy.
2. Burma/Myanmar?s political history.
2.1. Ethnic composition of Burma/Myanmar.
2.2. Colonial past.
2.3. Post-colonial context.
2.4. The emergence of the Burmese democratic movement.
2.5. Military rule.
3. The European Union?s response.
3.1. Resolutions concerning the junta.
3.2. Aid campaign for up-rooted people and against AIDS? spread.
4. The internationalisation of the Burma/Myanmar?s issue.
4.1. Non-states actors.
4.2. Big powers and neighbours states? positions.
4.3. Intergovernmental institutions.
5. Sanctions in international relations: analysis of the European Union?s strategy.
5.1. Objectives: the choice of targeted or ?smart? sanctions.
5.2. Methods of application.
5.3. Assessment of the sanction?s effectiveness.
Conclusion.
Bibliography.
Acknowledgements.
Appendix...
Conclusion:
"In the light of what have been said, many would have come to think that the European Union policy toward Burma/Myanmar is driven more by a desire to show to the international community that something is being done, than to genuinely address particularity of the Burmese issue.
Indeed, the European Union is trading with many countries with questionable human rights records. Few of them are actually sanctioned by the European Union. This could be explained by their relative geo-strategic importance for the European Union, as it is the case for Pakistan for instance.
On the contrary, Burma/Myanmar does not bear any particular value of this kind. Thus, it represents an easy means for the European Union to attest its ?pro-active? attitude towards those who violate human rights.
Nonetheless, the Burmese democratic movement is pushing for sanctions. Therefore, their interest could match those of the European Union. However, the sanctions implemented are by far too soft to provide and do not provide the strong incentive needed to persuade the junta to give up power.
The European Union explains its weak attitude by humanitarian considerations: soft sanctions are thought to spare civilians, already affected by the junta?s mismanagement.
However, as the NLD and some organisations, such as the Euro-Burma Office, suggest that the people cannot be affected by tougher economic sanctions, such as the import ban proposed by the US senate. Indeed, the Burmese economy chiefly relies on agriculture, with most of the population living on their own crops. Tourism, commercial and banking sectors that would be affected by economic and financial sanctions are all linked to the junta, if not state-owned.
The European Union is well aware of these elements. Therefore, one could argue that the main reason for maintaining soft sanctions is related to trade considerations. We have showed indeed that imports from Burma/Myanmar to the European Union have sharply increased over the past years.
Economic imperatives are thus the chief justification for the European Union inconsistent policy toward Rangoon. It clarifies the European Union attitude in the Massachusetts case, and the lack of cooperation with influent international actors, especially the United States. This tendency is particularly regrettable, as cooperation is a key requirement of sanctions? effectiveness.
Dealing with Burma/Myanmar democratic process entails more than lips-services.
?Although most pro-sanction policies have a consistent objective in demanding a move towards democratic change, the exact mechanism for attaining these goals is less clear. The objectives of enhancing human rights and democracy are clearly enunciated in the US and EU?s positions but such abstract goals need to be operationalised. In other words, these positions need to be more oriented towards facilitating a focused objective rather than mere signalling of moral disapproval. By establishing a clear operational goal in place, disincentive polices could articulate specific but feasible objectives or benchmarks that signal the regime a clear message of what not to do, how to behave and which to concede.?
Conclusively, the European Union policy is lacking of coherence and clarity, as far as the objectives of promoting democracy and human rights in Burma/Myanmar are concerned. The European Union did not shape its policy relatively to the specificity of the Burmese regime, held by a cohesive military elite who have been carried out a stable dictatorship for more than four decades.
However, if the real aim of the European Union was to signal its own humanistic behaviour, the consequent instrumentalisation of the Burmese issue is a success.
The European Union bears a significant potential of action on the junta, through trade and international bodies? fora. One can therefore hope that the Community is soon going to use its influence with more determination..."
Anais Tamen
Source/publisher:
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Date of publication:
2003-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2004-04-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.88 MB
Local URL:
more
Description:
Executive Summary:
The political stalemate in Burma will not be broken until the military regime considers it to be in its own
self-interest to commence serious negotiations with the democratic and ethnic forces within the
country. This paper outlines how the international community can bring about a political and economic
situation which will foster such negotiations.
Burma is ruled by a military dictatorship renowned for both oppressing and impoverishing its people,
while enriching itself and the foreign businesses that work with it. The regime continues to ignore the
1990 electoral victory of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.
The regime has shown no commitment to three years of UN mediation efforts. It has failed to end the
practice of forced labour as required by its ILO treaty obligations and demanded by the International
Labour Organization. It continues to persecute Burma?s ethnic peoples. It continues to detain more
than 1,350 political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.
Any proposal of a road map to political change in Burma will fail to bring about democracy in this
country unless it is formulated and executed in an atmosphere in which fundamental political freedoms
are respected, all relevant stakeholders are included and committed to negotiate, a time frame for
change is provided, space is provided for necessary mediation, and the restrictive and undemocratic
objectives and principles imposed by the military through the National Convention (ensuring continued
military control even in a ?civilian” state) are set aside.
Source/publisher:
Burma Campaign UK
Date of publication:
2004-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2004-03-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Sanctions, Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
120.04 KB
Local URL:
more
Description:
Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN, knew there would be a price to be paid for admitting Burma in July to full membership of their well-regarded club. But they may not have guessed that they would have been faced with it so soon.
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 5. No. 6
Date of publication:
1997-09-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more