CONNECTING EUROPE & ASIA THE EU STRATEGY SUSTAINABLE, COMPREHENSIVE AND RULES-BASED CONNECTIVITY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENHANCED PROSPERITY, SAFETY AND RESILIENCE OF PEOPLE AND SOCIETIES IN EUROPE AND ASIA WHAT IS CONNECTIVITY? TRANSPORT ENERGY DIGITAL HUMAN DIMENSION Diversified trade and travel More interconnected Increased access to digital Advanced cooperation routes linking existing and regional energy platforms, services while maintaining in education, research, future transport networks, modern energy systems and a high level of protection innovation, culture and shorter transit times environmentally friendly of consumer and personal tourism. and simplified customs solutions. data. procedures. WHY DO WE NEED BETTER CONNECTIVITY FOR EUROPE & ASIA? €1.6 TRILLION IN ANNUAL TRADE WE HAVE A JOINT RESPONSIBILITY TO BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT CROSS-BORDER RULES AND EUROPE AND ASIA ACCOUNT FOR OVER REGULATIONS MEAN FAIR 60% OF THE WORLD’S GDP COMPETITION FOR BUSINESSES SINCE 2014, OVER 32,000 STUDENTS FISCAL AND FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ACADEMIC STAFF HAVE TRAVELLED REQUIRES LONG-TERM PLANNING BETWEEN OUR TWO REGIONS HOW WILL THE EU ENHANCE CONNECTIVITY? CONTRIBUTING TO EFFICIENT CROSS-BORDER CONNECTIONS AND TRANSPORT, ENERGY, 1 DIGITAL AND HUMAN NETWORKS STRENGTHENING BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS BASED ON 2 COMMONLY AGREED RULES AND STANDARDS 3 LEVERAGING SUSTAINABLE FINANCING FOR INVESTMENTS The EU has a strong track record of financing connectivity internally and externally through combining innovative financing initiatives and creating opportunities for private sector participation. INSIDE THE EU OUTSIDE THE EU European Structural and Investment Investment Facility for Central Asia, Funds (ESIF), and The European Fund for Asian Investment Facility and the Strategic Investments (EFSI) support European Fund for Sustainable integrated investment programmes. Development (EFSD) provide financing Connecting Europe Facility mobilises to catalyse additional public and private investments in cross-border infrastructures capital. for transport, energy and digital networks. WHAT IS THE EU DOING TO CONNECT EUROPE & ASIA? TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTIVITY PARTNERSHIPS Indicative TEN-T Investment Action Plan for stronger connectivity with The Partnership Eastern Partnership countries on Sustainable foresees the construction of Connectivity and 4800 kilometres of road Quality Infrastructure and rail, 6 ports, and between the EU and 11 logistics centres across Japan sets out the Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, principles, thematic Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine by areas and methods 2030. for strengthening cooperation with Japan EXAMPLES within the four pillars OF CONNECTIVITY of connectivity (digital, transport, energy, PROJECTS people-to-people) bilaterally and with third countries. AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENTS When agreed, the EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement ELECTRICITY (CATA) will be is the TRANSMISSION SYSTEM world’s first block-to- block aviation agreement, encompassing a combined population of Within the framework of the “CASA more than 1000” project the EIB is contributing 1.1 billion and over 11 €70 million to enable Central Asian million passengers on countries to sell their electricity direct EU-ASEAN flights. surplus during summer months to In the first 7 years deficient countries in South Asia, (2017-2023) the improving the electricity access and Agreement is expected to expand markets in a sustainable way. bring up to DIGITALLY SUPPORTING €7.9 billion RESEARCH COLLABORATION worth of economic benefits. STUDENT EXCHANGES & STAFF MOBILITY EU-funded regional Research & Education Networks are connected by GÉANT, the operator of the pan-European research network, digitally connecting over 50 million researchers and students For the period 2014-2020 Erasmus+ has earmarked across Europe and Asia. Total current funding for the projects over €500 million for Asia. For this period the EU between Europe and Asia (Asi@Connect, CAREN3, EaPConnect and has supported over 37,000 short-term students EUMEDCONNECT3) 2015-2025 is €60.5 million (www.geant.org). and staff exchanges, 3,000 degree mobilities as well as 300 capacity building projects in higher education..