Connecting Civil Society of Asia and Europe—An Informal Consultation

This informal gathering was initiated and co-ordinated by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in partnership with Casa Asia (Spain), the International Institute for Asian Studies (The Netherlands) , and the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE).

Over two days, more than 180 high-level representatives from Civil Society Organisations from Asia and Europe, gathered in Barcelona to discuss issues of mutual concern for both regions as well as how to enhance future co-operation among the Civil Society of Asia and Europe. This consultation included participants from various Civil Society sectors namely: research institutes, think tanks, university departments, NGOs and other social partners such as trade unions, consumer organisations and business associations, cultural houses, the media, civil society resource organisations and foundations.

The Barcelona Report [pdf 172K] comprises a set of concrete recommendations addressed to the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) leaders, which were formulated by participants. These recommendations tackle pressing issues of common concern to the Civil Society of ASEM member countries, and present a Civil Society perspective on how to address them. The ideas and recommendations in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organisers.

Summaries of conference proceedings (welcome address, introductory statements, keynote addresses, closing address by ASEF Executive Director Delfin Colome', statements for the panel discussion, the full text of the reports by the rapporteurs of the 12 workshops, programme of the meeting, list of participants, list of Civil Society organisations represented, and a list of abbreviations) will be available online at the official conference website: www.casaasia.es/ccs/