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Singapore–European Union relations

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Singapore-European Union relations
Map indicating locations of European Union and Singapore

European Union
Singapore

Singapore and European Union relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Singapore and the European Union. The two entities generally maintain good relations.[1][2] Their leaders hold regular exchanges, and Singapore has an extensive network of embassies within the European Union.[1] Singapore's relations with the European Union date back to Singapore's independence in 1965,[2][3] and to date, they have signed multiple agreements.[4]

Economic relations

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The EU views Singapore as a crucial partner financially in a quickly developing region.[2] Singapore remains the EU's most important economic partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is one if its top partners globally.[5]

European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

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Main article: European Union–Singapore Free Trade Agreement

The European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), which was first proposed in 2013, is regarded by some as "the cornerstone of economic ties."[4] It was signed on 19 October 2018.[6] It aims to remove barriers to trade and investment in the EU and Singapore.[2] The EUSFTA, which is pending ratification, would be the first bilateral pact between the EU and an ASEAN nation.[7] The agreement was met with widespread approval with many companies welcoming the agreement.[8] The agreement might lead the way to more similar pacts in Asia.[7]

Among other things, the agreement would reduce tariffs for the importing and exporting of goods between Singapore and the EU.[9] Business in both areas may also bid on government projects.[9] All ASEAN products would be considered as being from Singapore when determining tariff rates.[9]

Expatriatism

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There are many expatriates from Singapore living in the EU and vice versa,[10][11] and there are numerous resources available to help in the process of expatriation.[12][13][14] There are also many agencies catering to expatriates.[15] Expatriates usually have a great relationship with their host country.[16]

Human rights and democracy

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The European Union and Singapore have very different policies regarding human rights, but they still maintain good relations.[2] One example is the death penalty. The European Union is widely opposed to the death penalty,[17][18][19] and considers that the abolition of the death penalty would lead to an increase in human dignity and the development of human rights.[17][19] Singapore, on the other hand, imposes the death penalty for crimes such as drug trafficking and murder.[20][21] Occasionally, this ignites a discussion of human rights and the morality of the death penalty, such as in the case of Prabu Pathmanathan.[22][23]

Censorship

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Main articles: Censorship in Singapore, Freedom of the press, and Media freedom in the European Union

Censorship in Singapore primarily targets political, racial and religious issues.[24][25] Singapore ranks 151st among 180 countries for censorship according to Reporters Without Borders.[26] The EU, in turn, generally has the greatest amount of freedom of expression in the world.[26] For a country to join the EU, it must first guarantee freedom of expression as a basic human right.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "MFA Singapore relations with Europe". www.mfa.gov.sg. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Singapore and the EU". eeas.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  3. ^ Lay, Hwee Yeo; Turner, Barnard (2015). 50 Years of Singapore-Europe Relations : Celebrating Singapore's Connections with Europe. Singapore. ISBN 978-981-4675-55-0. OCLC 910802479.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ a b "EU and Singapore forge closer economic and political ties". European Commission. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Why Asean and S'pore still matter to Europe". the straits times. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  6. ^ Tang, See Kit. "EUSFTA sends message that EU, Singapore are committed to free trade: PM Lee". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 2018-11-05. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  7. ^ a b "EU-Singapore FTA can help Europe seek similar pacts in Asia". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  8. ^ Heng, Janice. "Singapore businesses welcome EUSFTA". The Business Times. Archived from the original on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Introduction to the EUSFTA". Facebook. Ministry of Trade and Industry. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ Expats, Singapore. "Statistics on Numbers of Expats in Sg • Singapore Expats Forum". forum.singaporeexpats.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  11. ^ "Demographics". www.population.sg. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  12. ^ "First year as an expat in Singapore - lessons learned and tips for newcomers :)". www.mylifeinsin.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  13. ^ "Living in Singapore - Singapore Expats Guide". Singapore Expats Guide. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  14. ^ "Singapore Expats Services • Singapore Expatriates, Singapore Property, Classifieds and Forum Services". www.singaporeexpats.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  15. ^ "Top 9 Best Recruitment Agencies in Singapore - Singapore Expats Guide". Singapore Expats Guide. 2018-08-05. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  16. ^ Krich, John. "Why expats call this utopia". Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
  17. ^ a b "Fight against death penalty". European Commission. Archived from the original on 2018-12-06. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  18. ^ Yorke, Jon; Behrmann, Christian (20 December 2013). "The European Union and the Abolition of the Death Penalty". Pace University Digital Commons. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  19. ^ a b "European Union Calls for Abolition of Capital Punishment as World Coalition Hosts International Death Penalty Conference". Death Penalty Info. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Death Penalty - Singapore". Cornell Center on the Death Penalty. Cornell Law School. Archived from the original on 2018-08-22. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Capital Offences / Death Penalty in Singapore". GJ claw. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  22. ^ "EU Local Statement on the death penalty case of Mr Prabu N Pathmanathan in Singapore". European Union Delegation to Singapore. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  23. ^ "EU calls on Singapore government to halt the execution of Jeffrey Marquez Abineno". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Limitations of Civil Freedoms in Singapore". Internations. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Singapore Country Report | Freedom on the Net 2017". freedomhouse.org. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  26. ^ a b "2018 World Press Freedom Index | Reporters Without Borders". RSF. Archived from the original on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  27. ^ "Freedom of expression and media". European Commission. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
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