VietNamNet Bridge - Speaking during a business trip in Vietnam, the European parliamentary delegation said it fully supported the view of Vietnam in the East Sea issue, based on the principles of maintaining peace, adhering to international law, and maintaining equality among nations.


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The European parliamentary delegation led by Mr. Werner Langen (third from right) visited Vietnam from November 4-6.




The announcement was made by the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN countries (DASE) after the visit to Vietnam.

Regarding the tense situation in the East Sea, DASE Chairman Werner Langen, head of the delegation, reaffirmed the EU’s stance that all concerned parties should seek peaceful solutions which are relevant to international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Langen said that the East Sea is not only the issue of Vietnam but of many other member countries of ASEAN and the EU supports resolving the problem through peaceful negotiations and means.

He noted that trade between the EU and Vietnam and other countries in the region depends on the freedom of navigation in the East Sea; therefore it is necessary to maintain safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea.

Langen insisted that the European Parliament supports the view of Vietnam. The Statement of G7 Summit last year made it clear that it should support peaceful solutions. This can be considered one of the important steps in promoting cooperation between the EU and Vietnam and other countries in the ASEAN region.

Mr. Richard Ashworth, a member of the delegation, added that the European Parliament was keeping track of the East Sea situation with great interest.

He said that in the meetings with Vietnamese officials, the European parliamentary delegation learned the approaches of Vietnam to the East Sea issue and they will report back to the European Parliament on Vietnam's position. The delegation fully supported Vietnam's view, based on three basic principles:

Firstly, disputes in the East Sea must be resolved by negotiation and peaceful measures. 

Secondly, these measures must be based on international law. 

Thirdly, international law must be applied to all countries, big or small, weak or strong.

He said that the EU hopes resolving the conflict in the East Sea will create a precedent for resolving similar disputes in the world and not leave the consequences to which the parties do not want. 

The EU also expects to receive stronger support from other countries including ASEAN and the countries concerned in the region to solve this problem, said Ashworth.

Ashworth added that the European Union attaches great importance to the resolution of the current conflict in the East Sea. European MPs will contact and put pressure on their governments to put the East Sea issue to the G7 Summit.

Referring to the US’s sending of patrol ships into the area of 12 nautical miles around the artificial islands built illegally by China in the East Sea, Ashworth said if the patrol was conducted in accordance with international law, then the EU fully supported it.

"We also fully support if the patrols set out the principles of international law enforcement in the region," Ashworth said.

Promoting Vietnam-EU relations

The EU has approved 400 million euro aid package for Vietnam in the period 2014-2020. Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union Bruno Angelet said that 356 million euros would support sustainable energy development and rural electrification in Vietnam, and the remaining 44 million euros would be used to support judicial reform in the country.

Werner Langen pledged that the EU was ready to support Vietnam in the transition to green growth and development of sustainable energy sources.

During the visit to Vietnam, European MPs also found that Vietnam has great potential for tourism. They wished to further strengthen relations between the EU and Vietnamese citizens and hoped to have more European tourists to Vietnam, instead to Bali (Indonesia) or Thailand.

Tran Cham