| Session VIII: European Perspectives towards the Korean Peninsula
EUs Basic Strategy towards the Korean Peninsula: A Note
by Sung-Hoon Park Introduction 1. The recent bilateral relationship between the EU and Korea is largely shaped by a series of increased contacts and approaches between the two: 1993
Communication of the Commission 2. As for the EUs relations with North Korea, a proactive posture of the EU benefited and supported the effectiveness of sunshine policy through: EUs
contributions to the KEDO 3. An Assessment of EUs strategy towards the Korean Peninsula can be best done in connection with an analysis of its strategy towards East Asia. An Analysis of EUs Strategy towards East Asia 4. EUs strategy towards the Korean Peninsula is to be understood as a subset of EUs approach towards East Asia, the priority of which seems to be the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. 5. Especially in the security areas, the EU acknowledges the predominant role that the US is playing in the region, and admits that no country is in the position to take over this role from the US. 6. It is also recognized by the EU that East Asian countries, including Korea, are increasingly interested in playing a more prominent role on the world stage (NAS). The EU feels encouraged by Asian countries to show stronger interest in the region (ASEM). 7. The EU, therefore, started in a cautious manner to solicit the possibilities to strengthen political dialogue with East Asia. The EU currently maintains the following facilities to cooperate with East Asia in political areas: ASEAN
Regional Forum (ARF) Current EU-South Korea Relations and Changes in EUs Apporoach 8. In the political cooperation areas (including diplomatic and security cooperation), the EU appears to recognize increasingly shared political values with South Korea. This might have been influenced by the strengthening of democracy in Korea since the beginning of 1990s and newly opened possibilities for the EU to cooperate with Korea in these areas in several international meetings and organizations, such as ASEM and KEDO. 9. In the economic sphere, the level of bilateral relationship shifted increasingly from cooperation to competition. This tendency can be manifested by the increasing trade disputes between the two parties: alcohol beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, shipbuilding, and many anti-dumping cases. 10. Comparing the 1993 Communication with recent approaches of the EU towards South Korea, a shift in the EUs priority from economic cooperation to political cooperation can also be perceived. 11. The two Commission Communications of 1993 and 1998 reveal that the EU is increasingly interested cooperating with Korea in East Asian affairs. An impression that can be drawn form a comparative analysis of the two Communications, however, is that the priority cooperation field has been shifted from economics to politics. 12. This evolution of EUs policy is to be contrasted to EUs basic recognition and acknowledgement of a political dominance of the US in the East Asian region, which is to be found in an ASEM position paper of the EU. 13. A preliminary conclusion is: the EU recently wants to be more politically involved in East Asia, including Korea, than a few years ago. The author contends that this shift is an important shaping factor of EUs strategy towards the Korean peninsula. EUs Approaches towards North Korea 14. The two years 2000-2001 have been path-breaking in EUs approach towards North Korea through: a
begin of official diplomatic relations between North Korea and most of the Member
States of the EU 15. The new EU strategy towards North Korea aims at: supporting
international efforts to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula 16. Other priority areas, designed especially to assist North Korea, are: food
aid 17. Similar to the 1993 Communication, EUs new North Korea policy, as stipulated in Fact Sheet on EU Policy on the DPRK pays a special attention to support the inter-Korean reconciliation process and international efforts to promote peace and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula. The EU assessment of political development on the Korean peninsula in the beginning of both 1990s and 2000s seems similar, and its policy consistent with the above-mentioned priority. 18. As far as the dialogue with North Korea is concerned, the EU policy is more proactive than that of the current US administration, which only a few days ago declared to begin an official dialogue with North Korea. With the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) having become another official pillar of the EU, European Council adopted so far several Conclusions (two in 2000) to pursue a more coordinated approaches to the reduction of tensions on the Korean peninsula. As a result, the EU in fact is many steps ahead of the US in diplomatic relations with the North Korea. 19. The EU regards humanitarian assistance as one of the most important priority areas of cooperation with North Korea. The ECHO programs, which began in 1995, have been the key facility thereof. With the various programs mentioned above, the EU contributed a total sum of approximately 280 million Euros, which is the highest amount among the humanitarian aids paid to North Korea so far. 20. The EU seems to attach a relatively high priority to policy measures providing better market access to North Korean export products. This year, many textile products from North Korea enjoys an increase of quota of 60%, which implies a substantial improvement compared to some years ago. Assessment of EUs Strategy towards the Korean Peninsula 21. Korea is an important trade and investment partner for the EU. However, until recently the bilateral political and security cooperation did not match the economic cooperation. This is changing now. Important examples are: participation of Korea and the EU in ASEM; entering into force of the Framework Agreement that had long waited for a ratification process; stronger engagement of the EU into the inter-Korean reconciliation process. 22. Along with this intensified political and security interest of the EU on the Korean peninsula, the adoption of several Conclusions by the European Council can be interpreted as EUs strong commitment to reduce tensions and maintain stability. 23. From a European perspective, Korea, as country that was successful in democratizing politically and achieving remarkable economic development, has to play an increasingly important role in East Asia. It was the economic cooperation in the beginning of 1990s, which the EU was focusing when approaching Korea. However, in the 2000s EU developed increasing interest in political dialogue and cooperation with Korea, not to say that it has become the most important cooperation area. 24. Korea has to fully utilize the opportunities provided by the sunshine policy. The various supporting measure supplied by its allies, including the EU, have to be consistently utilized, with the view of securing peaceful relations on the Korean peninsula. ¨Ï Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung | June 2001 |