Vietnam – EIAS

Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in Vietnam – The EU’s Yellow Card

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices have been a critical challenge in Southeast Asia due to their environmental impact and related economic losses, resulting in the weakening of coastal communities. Notwithstanding the efforts being taken at the national level, mitigation and addressing the issue has proved to be challenging in Vietnam. The European Union (EU), a crucial trading partner for the country, has been pressuring Vietnam to combat IUU fishing. With the 5th EU inspection approaching in October 2024, Vietnam has been positively ramping up its efforts. What further action needs to be taken to lift the EU’s yellow card? How can the root causes of IUU fishing be addressed and how can the EU effectively provide adequate support in tackling this?

Bamboo Diplomacy Meets 5G: Europe’s High-Stakes Bid on Vietnam’s Telecommunications Transformation

In January 2024, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved Vietnam’s sweeping Information And Communication (IC) Infrastructure Plan For The Period Of 2021 – 2030, With A Vision To 2050. With ambitious goals such as connecting 100% of households to fibre optic cable by 2025 and for “5G mobile broadband coverage to reach 99% of the population” by 2030, Vietnam has gone all-in on overhauling its domestic economic policy to become a technologically integrated, highly developed state with full sovereignty over its data within the next 30 years.

Navigating the Green Transition: The EU and Vietnam’s Partnership for a Decarbonised Future

In the aftermath of COP28 in Dubai, the début of Vietnam’s Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP) by its Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính signifies a notable milestone in advancing the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The timing of the launch also highlights the progress made one year after the collaborative agreement was formed between Vietnam and the International Partners Group (IPG), co-led by the EU and the UK, during the December 2022 EU-ASEAN summit in Brussels.

Viet Nam – EU Trade Forum 2023

The European Institute for Asian Studies contributed to the 2023 Viet Nam – EU Trade Forum with an online presentation by EIAS Director Ms Lin Goethals on “Accompanying the manufacturing industry under pressure of green & sustainable development”. The Forum took place in Ho Chi Minh City on 27 November 2023.

Complexities and Visions of Outer-Space between the EU and Asia

More recent global competition has reignited outer space curiosity, as well as the use of it as an illustration of a country’s competency, capability, and focus. Those States able to reach outer space by their own means demonstrate their power due to the financial strain required. Pushing back the limits of human exploration and establishing such ‘firsts’ conveys prestige and notoriety. The most recent ‘first’ was achieved on 23 August 2023. That day, the Chandayaar-3 mission led to an Indian lander known as Vikram touching down on the Lunar South Pole. There it dispatched its rover, Pragyan. This mission made India the fourth State to land an unmanned probe on the Moon after the US, Russia, and China. Moreover, it made it the first State to reach the lunar south pole.

Strengthening the EU-Vietnam Partnership: Financing a Green and Just Energy Transition

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, expected to become one of the world’s top 20 leading countries by 2050. The country’s export-oriented economy and efforts to transform Vietnam into a manufacturing hub, make it well-placed to keep on attracting trade and investment from external partners from within and outside the region. Yet, despite its climate ambitions and corresponding engagements, Vietnam is also one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of facing high risk disaster levels. The question is how to finance Vietnam’s green and just energy transition.

EIAS Contribution to the Viet Nam-EU Trade Forum

On the occasion of the Viet Nam Trade Forum 2022 organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet

Framing the Future EU-Viet Nam Partnership – Green Development as a Catalyst for Trade and Political Cooperation?

Two years after the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), this EIAS Briefing Paper outlines the evolution of economic and trade relations between the two partners, identifying relevant sectors for future cooperation. Taking into account both parties’ climate ambitions, as well as Vietnam’s need to develop its energy infrastructure, the EU and Vietnam should collaborate more intensively to secure and incentivise sustainable European investments in Vietnam, facilitated by the FTA. Sharing its experience, the EU can contribute to determining an energy policy adapted to Vietnam’s needs and will.

Visiting Delegation from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

On 17 June 2022, EIAS welcomed a delegation from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam to discuss strategies for the