EIAS Events



Forthcoming Events



Social Justice and Health Care: Taiwan's Experience
Thursday 24 May 2012
12:00-13:00 at EIAS


The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Lunch Briefing on "Social Justice and Health Care: Taiwan's Experience", which is taking place on Thursday 24 May 2012, from 12:00 to 13:00, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.

To register for this event, please confirm your participation to anna.juhos@eias.org by Wednesday 23 May, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
11:45-12:00 Registration
12:00-12:10 Welcome Remarks by the Chair
Mr. Dick Gupwell, Vice-Chairman of the European Institute for Asian Studies
Introduction by
H.E. Mr. David Lin, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the European Union and Belgium
12:10-12:40 Presentation by
Professor Wen-ta Chiu, Minister of Health, Taiwan
12:40-13:00 Discussion, Questions and Answers



Social Justice and Health Care - Taiwan's Experience

Providing access to adequate health care for a population is a concern for any government. While, prior to 1995, Taiwan’s health care system could not provide adequate health care coverage for 45% of its population, Taiwan now has one of Asia’s leading health care systems with over 99% of its population covered.

As a leader in the global ICT sector, Taiwan uses its advanced technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the new National Health Insurance system. As a measure to increase efficiency, the administrative costs were reduced to one of the lowest in the world. This allows Taiwan to spend only 6-7% of their GDP on health care, while providing coverage for nearly the entire population.

The European Institute for Asian Studies welcomes you to this lunch seminar with visiting speaker Wen-ta Chiu, Taiwan’s Minister of Health, who will elaborate on the development and the future of health care in Taiwan.

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Recent Events



North Korean Refugee issues: Responses from the EU
Thursday 10 May 2012
14:30-16:00 at EIAS


The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Briefing Seminar on "North Korean Refugee issues: Responses from the EU", which is taking place on Thursday 10 May 2012, from 14:30 to 16:00, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.

To register for this event, please confirm your participation to sw.lee@eias.org by Wednesday 9 May, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
14:00-14:30 Registration
14:30-14:45 Welcome Remarks by the Chair
Mr. Dick Gupwell, Vice-Chairman of the European Institute for Asian Studies
14:45-15:15 Presentations by
Ms. Helene Soupios-David, Project Officer, European Council on Refugees Exiles
Mr. Willy Fautre, Director for Human Rights Without Frontier
Mr. Geoffrey Harris, Head of Human Rights Unit, European Parliament
15:15-16:00 Discussion, Questions and Answers



North Korean Refugee issues: Responses from the EU

Clearly committed by its Charter of Fundamental Human Rights, the European Union (EU) has a responsibility to protect human rights across the world. In recent years there has been growing concern as to the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Due to the continuing flow of North Korean refugees across the border into China who are often seeking third countries to resettle in, Human Rights issues are made increasingly into an international issue. During the seminar, EIAS will address the issue of human rights in the DPRK, how to restart the suspended EU-DPRK Human Rights Dialogue from 2002, and the EU's role with respect to North Korean refugees.


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Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese and European Investments in Africa
Monday 7 May 2012
15:00-17:00 at EIAS


The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Briefing Seminar on "Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese and European Investments in Africa", which is taking place on Monday 7 May 2012, from 15:00 to 17:00, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.

To register for this event, please confirm your participation to wallace.ma@eias.org by Friday 4 May, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
14:30-15:00 Registration
15:00-15:15 Welcome Remarks by the Chair
Mr. Dick Gupwell, Vice-Chairman, European Institute for Asian Studies
15:15-16:15 Presentations by
Mr. Filip De Beule, Lecturer Economics of China, Catholic University of Leuven
Mr. Nicholas Costello, Policy Officer (emerging economies), DG Development and Cooperation, European Commission
Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, Chief of Cabinet, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (tbc)
Mr. Walter Gelens, Secretary General, "Private Investors for Africa”
16:15-17:00 Discussion, Questions and Answers



Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese and European Investments in Africa

Chinese investments in Africa have been increasing impressively in the past decade, playing inevitably a more important role in the sustainable development and poverty reduction in Africa. The increasing investments also imply and require further cooperation of the great economic powers in the region, so as to create a better business environment which is, at the same time, in harmony with the local society and environment. A trilateral dialogue and cooperation has therefore been proposed by Europe since 2008.

With reference to the latest trend of Chinese and European investments in Africa, this event presents the different approaches and perspectives of the three trading partners towards the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It gives an overview of the formal institutions in enforcing CSR in the region and presents the corporate strategies to negotiate with government policy making in that respect. Current opportunities and challenges for trilateral cooperation in the enforcement of CSR in that region will also be discussed.


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Competition or Cooperation? Energy Strategies in Northeast Asia
Thursday 26 April 2012
14:30-16:00 at EIAS


The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Briefing Seminar on "Competition or Cooperation?- Energy Strategies in Northeast Asia", which is taking place on Thursday 26 April 2012, from 14:30 to 16:00, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.

To register for this event, please confirm your participation to r.warnault@eias.org by Wednesday 25 April, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
14:00-14:30Registration
14:30-14:40Welcome Remarks by the Chair
Mrs. Theresa Fallon, Senior Associate, European Institute for Asian Studies
14:40-15:10Presentation by
Mr. Justin Dargin, Energy and Environment Scholar at the University of Oxford, School for Geography and Environment
15:10-16:00Discussion, Questions and Answers



Competition or Cooperation? Energy Strategies in Northeast Asia

Northeast Asia (NEA) is home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies. At the center of this economic growth lies China, where China is now the world’s largest energy consumer. Furthermore, economic growth rates, which bear a strong correlation to energy consumption, are slated to grow not only in China, but in the other the other major regional economies of Japan and South Korea. The focus of the major Northeast Asian economies (China, Japan and South Korea) over the coming years will be to secure adequate and consistent supplies of energy to fuel their economic growth. In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the importation of fossil fuels bears an even greater importance as NEA nations seek to limit their use of nuclear energy demand to meet their growing energy demand. This presentation will examine the growing gap in NEA between energy demand and indigenous supply, and how the NEA governments seek to mitigate potential supply disruptions by nascent steps towards cooperation in the energy sector and reaching out to major energy exporters in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

This presentation will explore how an institutional framework could be created in order to promote energy cooperation in NEA, as well as cooperation with major energy suppliers in the Gulf. In addition, this presentation looks at how NEA multilateral energy cooperation could be facilitated given the geopolitical competition and the divergent interests and development strategies of the major potential stakeholders in such a project. A practical roadmap will be developed which would illustrate the various aspects and steps of cooperation, from how to facilitate cooperation on such a broad scope, to the development of financial mechanisms to foster regional energy cooperation.


Download the Invitation

More information on Justin Dargin and his publications

Science & Technology Development in Taiwan: Cooperation Opportunities with the EU
Wednesday 25 April 2012
12:15-13:30 at EIAS


The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Lunch Briefing on "Science & Technology Development in Taiwan - Cooperation Opportunities with the EU", which is taking place on Wednesday 25 April 2012, from 12:15 to 13:30, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.

To register for this event, please confirm your participation to gretel.martin@eias.org by Monday 23 April, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
11:45-12:15Registration
12:15-12:30Welcome Remarks by the Chair
Mr. Georges Legros, Vice-Chairman of the Belgium Hong Kong Society and Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide
Introduction by
H.E. Mr. David Lin, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the European Union and Belgium
12:30-13:10Keynote speech by
Dr. Cheng-Hong Chen, Deputy Minister of the National Science Council of Taiwan
Presentation by
Prof. Cor Claeys, Director for Advanced Semiconductor technologies at IMEC
13:10-13:30Discussion, Questions and Answers
13:30-14:30Lunch



Science & Technology Development in Taiwan: Cooperation Opportunities with the EU

Oriented towards exportation and based on a very competitive market, Taiwan has succeeded in affirming itself as one of the world’s leading economies. Its dynamic research and development (R&D) field has supported a sustained growth during the last decades. As of today, science and technology (S&T) gives added impetus to Taiwan’s economy and has offered high visibility on the global market. Taiwan is, for example, the world’s leader in terms of notebooks or personal computers production.

Nano sciences, energy, biotechnologies and geosciences, Taiwan has established itself as an actor that cannot be ignored in these sectors. Its remarkable development in these fields acts as a model for other economies. If the EU has sometimes been described as lagging behind in the S&T sectors, both the European Community and the Member States have given it a new impetus and concentrated their efforts on new projects. Yet, there is still room for more cooperation, fostering of new ideas, and new products and brands.

The European Institute for Asian Studies welcomes you to this lunch seminar on the occasion of the visit of Dr. Cheng-Hong Chen, Deputy Minister of the National Science Council of Taiwan. Dr. Chen will elaborate on specific policy measures in this field, his experience of applied technologies, as well as provide practical information on this sector.

Prof. Cor Claeys, Director for Advanced Semiconductor technologies at IMEC, will analyse the matter through the European prism, bringing forward his knowledge of the nano-electronics and nano-technology industries in Europe.


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The European Union and Indonesia: Problems and Prospects for a Global Partnership
Thursday 19 April 2012
16:00-18:00 at EIAS



At the occasion of a new EIAS Briefing Paper by Dr. Manuel Schmitz, the European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Briefing Seminar on "the European Union and Indonesia: Problems and Prospects for a Global Partnership", which is taking place on Thursday 19 April 2012, from 16:00 to 18:00, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.



To register for this event, please confirm your participation to a.lepore@eias.org by Wednesday 18 April, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
15:30-16:00Registration
16:00-16:15Introduction by the Chair
Mr. David Fouquet, Senior Associate of the European Institute for Asian Studies (tbc)
16:15-17:00Presentation of the Briefing Paper by
Dr. Manuel Schmitz, Lecturer at the Chair in International Relations and Foreign Policy, Political Science Department, University of Trier
Presentations by
H.E. Mr. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg
Prof. David Camroux, MCU Professor Sciences Po, Board Member of the European Institute for Asian Studies
17:00-18:00Discussion, Questions and Answers



The European Union and Indonesia: Problems and Prospects for a Global Partnership

Indonesia is on the rise. The world’s fourth most populous country with ample natural resources, an important geostrategic location and a growing and dynamic economy, is gaining in diplomatic weight globally. An important regional actor for long, for example as primus inter pares within the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN), it has joined the G-20 and may become a member of the BRICS club. Furthermore, it is an important player in the ASEM process. Relations between the EU and Indonesia are currently based on a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, while discussions on a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are under way. Against this background the new EIAS Briefing Paper points out problems and prospects of a closer cooperation between Brussels and Jakarta, which will be presented during this EIAS Briefing Seminar.

Download the Invitation
Download the Report (pdf)

Download the Briefing Paper

EU-Asia Cooperation in a Globalised World
Tuesday 17 April 2012
10:00-11:30, at EIAS


As Asia grows in importance in the international scene, the EU's relations with the region receive more attention and are put higher on the political agenda of the EU institutions. Together with the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, the European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Lunch Briefing on "EU-Asia Cooperation in a Globalised World", which is taking place on Tuesday 17 April 2012, from 10:00 to 11:30, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.


To register for this event, please confirm your participation to alicia.belda@eias.org by Monday 16 April, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.



Programme
9:30-10:00Registration
10:00-10:15Introduction by the Chair
Mr Lawrence Hardy, Lecturer in Politics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
10:15-10:45Presentations by
Mr Glyn Ford, Board Member of the European Institute for Asian Studies and Director of Polint
Representative (name tbc)
10:45-11:30Discussion, Questions and Answers
11:30Sandwich Lunch



EU-Asia Cooperation in a Globalised World

The central role of Asia as a global actor is an indisputable fact, that is why the European Union is deepening its strategic partnerships with some of those countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea and several other south-east Asian countries.

Regular and wide-ranging meetings are on the EU's agenda with Asia, leading increasingly to cooperation and convergence on global issues, regional security questions as well as regulatory policy and economic and trade issues. Agreements range from tourism to nuclear research, from climate change to sustainable development. The EU and Asia are cooperating also on the prevention and the response to natural and human disasters.

The Conference organised by the European Institute for Asian Studies will focus on the main issues on EU-Asia cooperation in the last years, like trade and policy cooperation.


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Download the Report

EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue Closing Session
Thursday 22 March 2012
15:00-17:30
at the Charlemagne Building, European Commission (Rue de la Loi 170, B-1000, Brussels)
Lord Jenkins Room



The EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue has the pleasure of inviting you to the Closing Session of its Brussels Event, on the topics of Climate Change, Environment, Sustainable Development, Youth Policy and Education, which is taking place on Thursday 22 March 2012, from 15:00 to 17:30, in the Lord Jenkins Room, in the Charlemagne Building, European Commission (Rue de la Loi 170, B-1000 Brussels).


To register for this event, please confirm your participation to wallace.ma@eias.org by Thursday 15 March. Due to security measures in the European Commission buildings, please be so kind as to provide your name, address, ID number and date of birth upon registration, in addition to your Organisation, Position and Contact Details.


Programme
14:15-15:00Registration
15:00-17:30Presentation of the Policy Recommendations and Action Plans by the Participants of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue
Comments and Remarks by Representatives of the European Institutions, the European Youth Forum and China, including Mr. Peter Matjasic, President of the European Youth Forum
17:30Closing of the Meeting



Closing Session of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue

In follow up to the EU-China Year of Youth, the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue is bringing together young people from China and the EU with an interest in EU-China affairs, discussing relevant issues for young people, of importance for future relations between China and Europe. The discussions and workshops of this Dialogue, focusing on Climate Change, Environment, Sustainable Development, Youth Policy and Education, confirm a genuine interest of young people - the decision-makers of the future - in EU-China relations. Their voice is an important indicator for the policies of today and tomorrow.

In February 2012, the First session of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue on Urbanisation, Social Policies and EU-China Relations took place in Chengdu. The Final Statement and Points of Action drafted by the participants raised a strong voice for the future and was widely distributed to policy-makers and other stakeholders in China and the EU.

Addressing the topics of Climate Change, Environment, Sustainable Development, Youth Policy and Education, the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue in Brussels will present its Policy Recommendations and Action Plans during the Closing Session, taking place on Thursday 22 March 2012 in the Charlemagne Building of the European Commission. After the presentations of the outcome of the discussions by the participants, representatives from various European and Chinese institutions and organisations will provide their comments and suggestions on the issues raised.

For More Information on the Project, please visit http://www.euchinayouth.eu

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The EU-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement
Wednesday 7 March 2012
10:00-12:00
at The European Institute for Asian Studies


The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Briefing Seminar on "The EU-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement", which is taking place on Wednesday 7 March 2012, from 10:00 to 12:00, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.



To register for this event, please confirm your participation to hoang.vu@eias.org by Tuesday 6 March, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.

Programme
9:30-10:00Registration
10:00-10:15Introduction by the Chair
Mr. Dick Gupwell, Vice-Chairman of the European Institute for Asian Studies
10:15-11:15Presentations by
H.E. Mr. David Lin, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the European Union
Dr. Brian McDonald, former EU Ambassador (Rtd)
Dr. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
11:15-12:00Discussion, Questions and Answers
12:00Networking Lunch


The EU-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement

The European Parliament adopted in May 2011 a resolution supporting the EU-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA). The EU goods imports from Taiwan accounted for €24 billion in 2010 while exports to Taiwan accounted for €15 billion. Furthermore, the EU is Taiwan’s fourth major trade partner representing 9,7 % of its trade, and Taiwan accounts only for 1,4% of EU’s total trade. The Agreement could generate significant opportunities for the EU industries and businesses and may increase the FDI flows from the EU, which is already the biggest foreign investor in the Republic of China (Taiwan). This agreement could also be very instrumental in balancing the trade flows.

The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure to invite you to a comprehensive assessment about the EU-Taiwan ECA and its complexities.

Download the Invitation
Download the Report (pdf)

Implementing Social Standards in EU-Asia Trade Relations: Practice and Case Studies
Wednesday 7 March 2012
14:00-16:30
at The European Institute for Asian Studies


The Italian Centre for International Relations (ICIR) and the European Institute for Asian Studies have the pleasure of inviting you to the EIAS Briefing Seminar on "Implementing Social Standards in EU-Asia Trade Relations: Practice and Case Studies", which is taking place on Wednesday 7 March 2012, from 14:00 to 16:30, at the European Institute for Asian Studies, Rue de la Loi 67, B-1040 Brussels.



To register for this event, please confirm your participation to deirdre.westgeest@eias.org by Tuesday 6 March, indicating your name, position, organisation and contact details.


Programme
13:30-14:00Registration
14:00-14:15Introduction by the Chair
Mr. Dick Gupwell, Vice-Chairman of the European Institute for Asian Studies
14:15-15:30Presentations by
Prof. Dr. Alfredo Rizzo, Italian Centre for International Relations, EU law research fellow and Jean Monnet Professor
H.E. Mrs. Victoria Bataclan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic the Philippines to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Mission of the Philippines to the EU
Mrs. Iris Van der Veken, Chair of the UN Global Compact Network Belgium
Mr. Eddy Laurijssen, Board Member of the European Institute for Asian Studies and former President of the ILO Brussels
Mr. Fabrizio Di Gianni, Van Bael & Bellis Law Firm
15:30-16:30Discussion, Questions and Answers


Implementing Social Standards in EU-Asia Trade Relations: Practice and Case Studies

Social standards in EU-Asia trade relations have increased in significance over the last two decades at both bilateral and multilateral level. Social rights, environmental protection and sustainable development have proven to be major issues in the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreements, as well as in other trade agreements with Asian partners. In addition, the UN Global Compact Initiative and the EU’s non-discrimination policy are both initiatives brought to life, in order to address social standards and can be seen as significant milestones.

The focus of the event will be on the issue of ‘conditionality’ in both theory and practice, as well as on the interaction between social and trade policies in contemporary EU-Asia trade relations and the challenges of implementing them. This Briefing Seminar will provide the link between policy-making processes in EU-Asia relations, their legal background and their practical implementation, glimpsing into the future.

Download the Invitation
Download the Powerpoint Presentation of Prof. Alfredo Rizzo
Download the Report (PDF)

EU-Japan Business Seminar: Future Visions of EU-Japan Partnerships for Economic Growth
Thursday 8 March 2012
13:20-17:00
At the Diamant Brussels Conference & Business Centre
(Boulevard A. Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels Belgium)

The "EU-Japan Business Seminar: Future Visions of EU-Japan partnerships for economic growth" is organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS).

To register for this event, please click the link below and complete the online registration form by Monday, 5 March 2012.

http://www.jetro.go.jp/form5/pub/beb/seminar120308

* Please note that application will be on a first-come-first-served basis and close when the number of applicants reaches capacity (100 persons).

Programme

1. The status of the EU-Japan FTA and future visions of EU-Japan partnerships for economic growth


- Mr. Yorizumi Watanabe, Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, Japan
- Mr. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy

2. Report from the frontline of business in the EU and Japan


- From the Japanese automobile industry (to be announced)
- From Business Europe (to be announced)

3. Report on aspects of EU and Japanese policy


- Mr. Michitaka Nakatomi, Principal Trade Negotiator, Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI)
- Mr. Joao Aguiar Machado, Deputy Director General, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission

4. Panel discussion


Moderator (Mr. Takayuki Sumita, Director General, Brussels office, Japan Machinery Centre for Trade and Investment) Panelists (All speakers)


The EU-Japan Business Seminar: Future visions of EU-Japan partnerships for economic growth

Faced with the financial instability and constraints caused by the debt crisis in the region, Europe's growth strategy is at the top of its agenda in terms of political and economical issues. One year after an unprecedented earthquake, Japan is still struggling with its own economic recovery and is heading towards a significant turning point as a trade power in the face of business globalization and competition from emerging countries.

Through the EU-Japan Business Seminar, JETRO aspires to have an open forum to discuss what the EU and Japan should accomplish to lead the global economy during this critical time of change, what is the ideal future form of partnership for their governments and industrial sectors, and how they can realize economic growth via the revitalization of trade and investment. Intellectuals from academia, business sectors and governments of Europe and Japan will be invited as speakers. The topics will cover the progress of the EU-Japan trade and investment relationship and the status of economic integration in the flourishing Asia-Pacific region.

Participation of those interested in EU-Japan business promotion is welcome!

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