April 2002 In preparation for ASEM IV Challenges and perspectives for making the Asia-Europe-Meeting more meaningful Prof. Peter Mayer,University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck Erwin Schweisshelm, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Executive Summary The meetings of Asian and European leaders as part of a regular, institutiona­lised, yet informal mechanism for dialogue started well. ASEM has filled an important gap. While ASEM does not make binding decisions, it has been a useful forum for dialogue and reflection on common challenges. So far three summits have taken place, i.e. in Bangkok(1996), London(1998) and Seoul(2000). This year’s meeting in Sep­tember will be held in Copen­hagen/Denmark. While ASEM was envisaged to go beyond economic and financial matters, it was dominated in the past by issues pertaining to economic liberalization and investment promotion. The social dimension of trade, investment and economic relations has been neglected. Trade unions and non­governmental organizations demand the inclusion of such issues in further deli­berations. Trade unions and civil society from Asia and Europe, who met recently in Berlin for preparing for ASEM IV request specific institutional innovations for deliberating on social issues and request the inclusion of civil society and trade unions into the dia­logue. Filling a gap in the international arena: facilitating regular exchange The growing economic interdependence between Asia and Europe gave rise to the call and receptiveness on both the Asian and European side for a permanent institutionalised dialogue between Asian and European countries. The Asia-Europe-Meeting has been con­ceptualised as a regular yet informal meeting of the 15 members of the European Union, the European Commission and 10 Asian countries (Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam). The heads of states and governments meet every two years. The first meeting in 1996 took place in Bangkok. It was followed by meetings in London 1998 and in Seoul 2000. This year’s meeting(ASEM IV) will be held in Copenhagen. This kind of regular ex­change of ideas and perspectives has been 1