The COSATT Conference on “South Asia’s Stability in a Turbulent World: The European Union’s Role in Shaping Regional Resilience” set the stage for critical discussions on the region’s evolving security and economic landscape. The event brought together leading think tanks across South Asia, providing a platform for in-depth discussions on regional resilience and global partnerships.
In his keynote speech, Mr. Thomas Miller, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Nepal, addressed several key themes, emphasizing the need for bold, ambitious, and fast action in the face of global uncertainty.
Miller highlighted South Asia’s strategic importance, calling attention to both its economic potential and its vulnerabilities, particularly in the areas of trade, climate change, and regional security. He underscored the EU’s role as a key trading and investment partner, stating:
“The EU remains a key trading and investment partner for South Asia.”
He pointed out that the EU is India’s largest trading partner in goods, with 6,000 companies supporting around 8 million jobs across the region. Programs like GSP+ have played a crucial role in fostering trade relationships and economic growth, while the EU’s Global Gateway initiative is helping South Asia develop sustainable infrastructure. Miller stressed that stronger economic ties between the EU and South Asia could contribute significantly to regional resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Climate action was another focal point, with Miller stressing that South Asia is on the front lines of climate change and that EU-led climate finance efforts could help the region transition to greener energy and infrastructure.
Security and governance were also central to his speech, where he noted:
“Democracies may appear flimsy, but they rarely fold. Autocracies, on the other hand, collapse without warning.”
He urged greater cooperation between the EU and South Asia on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and maritime security, signaling an increasing European commitment to regional stability.
Miller concluded by emphasizing the urgency of action in today’s rapidly shifting world, stating:
“The world isn’t getting any slower or any safer. We need to be ambitious, bold, and fast.”
The event, hosted by the Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), provided a forum for diplomats, security experts, and scholars to discuss collaborative strategies for resilience in a shifting global order.
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