Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold discussions with the European Union (EU) leadership over Brexit and possible future scenarios during the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit to be held in Mongolia next month. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already confirmed that she will take part in the 11th ASEM Summit of heads of state and government in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, on 15-16, said EU Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon on Tuesday. Dhaka, UNB News Agency Reported.
The Ambassador had a discussion with Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at the Foreign Ministry on the upcoming Summit. He said the EU Presidents – President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz will be there attending the Summit.
“We will be reviewing bilateral relations. Most probably there will be a meeting between EU Presidents and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” the EU Ambassador told reporters at the ministry after his meeting with Foreign Secretary. Asked whether Brexit will be discussed, he said, “Yes, of course. Because inevitably we will have exchange of views over Brexit and possible scenario.”
Responding to another question, he said it is not a question of consequences only on Bangladesh but consequence worldwide. As a single country, Bangladesh has been enjoying duty-free, quota free market access to the EU but Bangladesh will have to renegotiate with the UK once it comes out from EU formally.
The EU Ambassador said the EU obviously respects and regards the result of the referendum. “EU remains more than ever determined to bring forward its values and its agenda. We are willing now to start with the UK the negotiation for UK’s departure.” The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Mongolia on 14-17 July to attend the Summit and is expected to hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the ASEM members.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together 53 members, including the 28 European Union member states, two other European countries, and the European Union with 21 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between their two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.
The initial ASEM partnership in 1996 consisted of 15 EU member states and 7 ASEAN member states-plus China, Japan, Korea and the European Commission. The ASEM Summit is a biennial meeting between heads of state and government, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
