The European Union’s reputation has recovered among Southeast Asia’s elite class, with over half of opinion leaders believing the EU will “do the right thing” to improve the world.
A new survey of Southeast Asian opinion leaders shows renewed trust in the European Union after last year’s decline. The EU has taken steps to secure free trade deals with multiple ASEAN nations, which may have contributed to the improvement in its reputation.
The European Union (EU) has a significant impact on global politics, with its 27 member states contributing to over 50% of the world's total GDP.
The EU plays a key role in international trade, economic policy, and security cooperation.
It has implemented various policies and initiatives to promote peace, stability, and human rights globally.
In addition, the EU has established partnerships with other major global players, such as the United States, China, and India, to address common challenges and issues.
More than half of opinion makers in Southeast Asia believe that the ‘do the right thing’ to improve the world, quoting one participant. This is a significant improvement from last year, when trust in the EU dropped by nearly 10%. The survey was conducted among over 2,000 people, including members of academia, think tanks and researchers, government officials, private sector representatives, civil society and NGO activists, media workers, and members of international organizations.
The EU‘s reputation has recovered and surpassed its previous standing, with levels of trust rising from 41.5% in 2024 to 51.9% this year for ASEAN-10 respondents. The EU is still considered the top ‘middle power’ between the US and China, but Japan is catching up, with 29.6% of participants preferring it as their preferred middle power.
The European Union's (EU) reputation has undergone significant changes since its inception in the 1950s.
Initially, it was viewed as a symbol of post-war cooperation and economic growth.
However, with the introduction of the euro currency in 1999, concerns about sovereignty and economic stability arose.
The 2008 financial crisis further eroded trust, particularly among EU member states that experienced significant economic downturns.
According to a 2020 survey, only 28% of Europeans believe their country benefits from EU membership.
The EU has taken steps to improve its image in Southeast Asia, including diplomatic efforts to secure free trade deals with multiple ASEAN nations. The EU is close to finalizing free trade deals with Indonesia and Thailand, while talks with the Philippines resumed last year. These efforts may have contributed to the improvement in the EU‘s reputation.
Despite the positive trend, there are still challenges ahead for the EU. When asked about its ability to ‘provide leadership to maintain the rules-based order and uphold international law,’ only 19.3% of participants preferred the EU, trailing behind the US with 26.5% and the ASEAN itself with 23.1% of support. The survey was completed before the latest trade war escalations from the US.
The European Union faces several significant challenges, including economic disparities among member states.
The UK's decision to leave the EU, popularly known as Brexit, has led to trade and diplomatic tensions.
Climate change and migration remain pressing concerns, with the EU seeking to implement policies that balance national interests with collective action.
Additionally, issues such as cybersecurity threats, terrorism, and social inequality require coordinated responses from member states.
The EU‘s reputation is still affected by its stance on certain global issues, such as the Israel–Gaza conflict. However, the latest ISEAS-Yusof report shows that the EU has recovered and surpassed its previous standing.
