ROK-EU Summit 2020
Human, Economies, Disputes & COVID19
Bilateral Strategic PartnershipThe summit between the Republic of Korea and the European Union was originally scheduled to take place in February, but was held in late June due to spread of coronavirus. It is meaningful as the first summit since the leaders of the EU changed, and the first meeting in 10 years since the signing of the free trade agreement between two economies.
The talk were inevitable held on video conference because of amid of COVID-19, during which leaders addressed a number of pending issues, including prevention of epidemic, economic development, and universal values of mankind, and in particular, references to the environment were made quite specifically. As environmental issues emerged as a challenge of the times after climate change, the leaders actively exchanged opinions, including Korean Green Deal.
As the global economy is extremely depressed due to the pandemics, the leaders harmonized to further strengthen economic cooperation and shared their intention to increase the size of exports and imports under the existing FTA. Also, EU leaders actively questioned President Moon Jae-in about handling the coronavirus crisis.
Additionally, the leaders shared their views on the disputes connected by each party. The EU mentioned the Ukraine crisis, Korea announced North Korea’s nuclear crisis, and added the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) relevant with two organizations. The leaders agreed that compliance with international law should keep ruling , and that sanctions imposed by the global community should still be announced.
Most of all, it is regrettable that EU leaders have delayed their visit to Seoul, however, the summit has brought Korea and EU closer, and that relationship amongst both parties, as President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen added in a press conference after the video summit, has moved from the present economic affiliation to a more elevated strategic collaboration.
