CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- On the eve of the recent important meeting between the European Union and ASEAN in Vientiane, Laos, a great uneasiness and disappointment prevailed in ASEAN capitals because of the perceived lack of interest in ASEAN on Europe's part.
What conclusions can be drawn from this sad state of affairs now that the meeting is over?
First, both sides must accept that this otherwise laudable institutional exercise between the two groupings is showing signs of "conference fatigue." There are simply too many regional and other international meetings taking place. Overlapping becomes unavoidable, undermining ample good will. Thus, the fact that the EU summit in Nice, France, almost coincided with the Laos conference could remove part of the blame for the low level of European representation in Vientiane.