FAQs about the European Institute for Asian Studies, EIAS
Willem van der Geest, Research Director of the Brussels-based European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) answers some of the frequently asked questions about the Institute, such as: What is the EIAS? What does it do? Who supports it?By Willem van der Geest
The European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) is a Brussels-based policy and research think-tank supported by the European Union (EU), which aims to promote understanding and co-operation between the EU and Asia.What are the origins of the EIAS? The EIAS was set up in July 1989 as a non-profit association by a group of individuals, including members of the European Parliament, civil servants, trade union representatives, and Asian journalists based in Brussels. They had two overriding motives: first to highlight the importance of Asia in future external relations with the European Community; and second, to develop a centre of expertise on contemporary Asian affairs and on EU-Asia relations. The Institute's founding members were aware that Asia was consistently bottom of the league in the EU's external relations priorities. Pertinently, at that time, Brussels had no research centre specializing in Asian affairs.
What are the EIAS objectives? The Institute has taken on three main objectives:
to act as a 'think-tank' on issues involving EU-Asia relations through research;
to provide a forum for those in European Institutions, the academic world, and the private and public sectors, in which to discuss contemporary issues of EU-Asia relations;
to offer concise, up-to-date information on important developments in Asia to the wider public.
What does the EIAS do? The EIAS undertakes research and organizes briefings, seminars, and conferences. It publishes research results in the form of Occasional Papers and Briefing Papers, and a monthly news digest of EU-Asian affairs, the EurAsia Bulletin. The EIAS also has a key advisory role -- undertaking specialized briefings, providing information, advice and policy-making support -- to senior decision makers in the European institutions. The EIAS is also involved in relations-building activities, for instance the creation and maintenance of EU-Asia networks via the Internet, as well as disseminating information on contemporary Asian affairs to a wider public.
Who supports the EIAS? Though an independent association, the EIAS is closely connected to the European institutions: the Council, the Commission, and the Parliament. The second provided the Institute with its own line in the EC budget in 1990. The European Parliament has shown its continuing support for the Institute by gradually increasing its funding, although never beyond very modest limits. Equally significant, many Members of the European Parliament have played an active role at EIAS meetings, which has contributed to the growing reputation of the EIAS as an important forum for Asia-Europe exchanges.
How does the EIAS function as a think-tank? As a think-tank, the EIAS provides readable, substantive analyses and policy proposals to the right people, when it matters most. One example is the research study 'Understanding Asian Values'. This eminently readable report was prepared for the Venice Forum, which was a Track II meeting in the run-up to the first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) bringing together Head of States at a summit in Bangkok in 1996. A detailed, academic version of the research findings is being published by Curzon Press from London as Asian Values : an encounter with diversity (forthcoming June '98). The editors are Josianne Cauquelin, a philosopher working in Paris, Birgit Mayer-Konig, an indologist working in Hallen, Germany, and Paul Lim, a sociologist and senior researcher at the Institute. They worked on this topic for well over a year supported by a vibrant group of European and Asian scholars, who were commissioned to write papers on the various philosophical traditions and how these are reflected in exchanges today. The researchers came together for a series of research workshops in Brussels.
Another major study was economic in its choice of theme and approach: trade with Asia and its impact on European employment. It is often alleged that the low wage economies of Asia are a threat to jobs and wages in Europe. Such statements are only too often a precursor to a call for policy interventions of a protectionist bent. This study looks at both sides of the coin: jobs are lost through competing imports, but equally, jobs are also created because of exports to, and investment in Asia with its rapidly growing markets. What the study points out is that there are bound to be losers and winners in these structural changes. Macmillan will publish the study entitled Global Trade and European Employment edited by Paul Brenton and Jacques Pelkmans (forthcoming August 1998).
The Institute also publishes a series of Briefing Papers on topical political and economic issues. These are written by academic experts, with Van der Geest and Lim as series editors
The EIAS publishes the monthly EurAsia Bulletin which presents what has been happening in the European Institutions with regard to Asia in a nutshell and also covers major developments inside Asia which affect EU-Asia relations
As a discussion forum, the Institute organizes monthly luncheon briefings, as well as regular seminars and conferences. In 1996, these included seminars on ASEM , on APEC as well as the annual EIAS Conference on trade between Europe and Asia in the context of the WTO. In 1997, the Institute Conference discussed 'What political role for Europe in Asia?, and a host of other interesting topics was covered in its briefings and seminars throughout 1997. The topics included such issues as Pakistan's elections, Thailand's economic problems; emerging and maturing economies in Southeast and East Asia; China's WTO accession; the crisis in North Korea and transparency in Asia. In 1998 the Institute seminars will tackle the Asian financial crisis and its impact on Europe, a seminar on communicating with China, held at the European Parliament, and briefings on the Indian Ocean Rim initiative, on Thailand's economic problems, on Indonesia's political developments, and the foreign policy of India after the Cold War.
Does the EIAS have a political orientation? The Institute is interested in promoting economic and social progress, democracy and human rights, in Asian countries through its various activities. In common with think-tanks and research foundations the world over, the EIAS has no affiliations with political parties and does not accept funding for political activities. Its members reflect a broad spectrum of views and experiences. Its independence is ensured by its internally elected Administrative Board which includes Asian as well as European specialists from a variety of disciplines and professions.
Does the EIAS use the Internet? The EIAS launched 'Cyberforum on EU-Asia'. The Cyberforum is a facility on the Internet to encourage a moderated discussion on topical issues regarding economic and political events in Asia and/or Europe-Asia relations. This EIAS initiative has attracted a great deal of interest among both European and Asian leaders who are keen to wake their views and visions, known to a larger public. The scope of using Internet is tremendous and is given a high priority in the Institute's work programme. Please have a browse at our website:
http://www.net7.net/eias/cyberforum.
What does 'Asia' include? The Institute was originally called the Institute for South and Southeast Asian Studies and it adopted a statute which is particularly concerned with developing the EC's relations with the countries of South and Southeast Asia which have grouped themselves into the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In 1996 the Institute adopted its current name, the European Institute for Asian Studies, so as to expand its geographical scope of activities to the other regions covered by the EU's New Asia Strategy, in particular East Asia. Hence, the Institute now covers all the major part of Asia, spanning from Kabul to Kyoto.
What are the areas of expertise at the EIAS? The EIAS can draw on the knowledge and experience of its staff, the office bearers and its grwoing membership.The Institute's Chairman is Dr Oscar Debunne, who has been the international secretary of the Socialist Party of Belgium and the Vice-President is Prof. Ludo Cuyvers, an economist at the University of Antwerp. The Secretary General is Dick Gupwell; previously at the European Parliament with special responsibility for 'Asian Affairs'. Malcolm Subhan, a journalist, has been covering the EU for Asian newspapers and magazines since the 1960s. The Institute's staff is headed by the research director, Dr Willem van der Geest, and consists of one senior research fellow and three research fellows, as well as a publications officer and administrative staff. Besides this, some people work at the institute on a secondment basis, one example is the manager of the Cyberforum, Raymond Le Ruyet, seconded by the French government
How can I keep in touch with the Institute? The EIAS briefings, seminars, and conferences, usually in Brussels, are open to the interested public. A regular newsletter, EurAsia News provides detailed information about the Institute's activities and includes summaries of the Briefing Papers and the proceedings of the briefings, seminars, and conferences. It can be obtained from the Institute free of charge by writing to its publications officer, Ron Nath Mukherjee.
Willem van der Geest, Research Director
The European Institute for Asian Studies, EIAS
35 Rue des Deux Eglises
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: + 32-2-230 8122
Fax: + 32-2-230 5402
Email: w.vandergeest @ planetinternet.be
Recent EIAS Publications
EurAsia Bulletin (50BEF)
Editor: Mr Dick Gupwell; Deputy Editor: Pascal Michaux
Vol. 1, No.'s 1- 11 (Jan - Dec. 1997)
Vol. 2, No.'s 1 -3, (1998)
EIAS Briefing Paper Series (200BEF)
Series Editors: Dr Willem van der Geest and Dr Paul Lim
BP 97/01 Rewind, Pause, Fast Forward: Viewing the Ongoing Political Transition in Indonesia; 1996-97. Dr. John Sidel, March 1997
BP 97/02 Burmese Economy and the Withdrawal of the European Trade Preferences. Dr Stefan Collignon, April 1997
BP 97/03 Pakistan at Fifty: Stalemate or a New Beginning. Dr. Iftikhar H Malik, April 1997
BP 97/04 Emerging and Maturing Economies of East and South East Asia. Prof. Brian Van Arkadie, June 1997
BP 97/05 Hong-Kong at the Threshold of History. Prof. Yash Ghai, June 1997
BP 97/06 Direct Foreign Investment in China:Opportunities and Pitfalls. Prof. Dr. Sylvain Plasschaert, November 1997
BP 97/07 The Future of Japan's Official Development Assistance. Prof. Yasuoki Takagi, November 1997
BP 97/08 Economic Cooperation in South Asia. Prof. Arif A.Waqif, December 1997
BP 98/01 Slowdown or Bust: Causes and Consequences of the South East Asian Financial Crisis. Prof. Rajah Rasiah, January 1998
BP 98/02 Peace and Security in Contemporary South Asia. Dr. David Taylor, February 1998
EIAS Occasional Papers (350BEF)
May 1996 Understanding Asian Values, EIAS Task Force, ed. Malcolm Subhan (112pp)
Oct 1997 ASEM: How promising a partnership? eds. Jacques Pelkmans and Hiroko Shinkai (186pp)
If you wish to order our publications contact:
European Institute for Asian Studies
Ron N. Mukherjee, Publications Officer
35 Rue des Deux Eglises
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32-2-230 8122
Fax: +32-2-230 5402