1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European External Action Service held the 14th meeting of the ROK-EU joint committee in Brussels on December 15. The two sides reviewed the current state of the ROK-EU relations in a range of areas and how consultative mechanisms between the two sides are being operated, and discussed multilateral cooperation, as well as ways to work together on global issues and increase substantive cooperation in each area.

o The ROK and EU delegations were led by Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon and Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand, respectively.

2. The two sides welcomed the fact that the ROK and the EU are advancing their strategic partnership by successfully operating more than 30 consultative mechanisms in accordance with the bilateral Framework Agreement, and closely working together on not only bilateral issues, but also regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, and global issues, such as development and human rights.

o In particular, cooperation between the two sides is expanding to cover not only political and economic affairs, but also security and crisis management, as demonstrated by the fact that the ROK’s Cheonghae Anti-piracy Unit participated in the EU’s counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia four times last year under the ROK-EU Framework Agreement for the Participation of the ROK in EU Crisis Management Operations.

3. The ROK side asked for the EU’s keen interest and cooperation to make sure that the ROK is removed from the EU’s list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions as soon as possible, considering the ROK government’s efforts to prevent tax avoidance, and close cooperative relations between the ROK and the EU.

o The EU side agreed to continue to discuss the possibility of the ROK’s removal from the list through close consultations with the ROK.

4. The two sides affirmed that they share common values in addressing global issues, including climate change, development cooperation, human rights and free trade, and agreed to closely work together on them. They especially agreed to cooperate to counter protectionism and promote free trade at multilateral economic forums, including the G20 and the WTO.

5. The two sides reviewed the progress in substantive cooperation between them in a range of areas, including culture, employment, social affairs, the protection of personal information, science and technology, and discussed ways to expand cooperation in the areas.

o The ROK and the EU will increase cultural exchanges between the two sides through various cultural events, with next year marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

o They agreed on the importance of social dialogue, and discussed ways to facilitate cooperation between the two sides regarding social dialogue.

※ Social dialogue: a political and social system where labor unions, employers and the government participate in making decisions on economic and social policies, including labor policies

o The two sides will continue to close work together to help the EU finish its assessment of the adequacy of the ROK’s measures to protect personal information.

o They will strengthen cooperation in science and technology, making use of the EU’s Horizon 2020, a program for research and innovation.

6. The two sides agreed to hold the next joint committee meeting in Seoul next year and continue to review the progress in follow-up measures in the meantime.


* unofficial translation