He said that EU-Vietnam cooperation is considered a model of success, as Vietnam is the EU’s top trading partner in Southeast Asia, with bilateral trade increasing by 40% over the past four years. Building  on these achievements, there is significant potential for both sides to elevate their current cooperation to a comprehensive strategic partnership. “It’s the moment,” he asserted.

The press briefing's overview. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Potential timing
Regarding the timing for the upgrade, Margaritis Schinas revealed that  EC President Ursula von der Leyen's official visit to Vietnam, scheduled for  April 2025, could be an appropriate time. Moreover, 2025 marks an important milestone, commemorating 35 years of Vietnam-EU relations, making the plan even more meaningful. “All materials for the dish are on the table,” he noted.
The high hopes for this milestone, according to Schinas, come not only from the governments on both sides but also from Vietnamese businesses and youth. The positive vibes and recognition are being acknowledged through recent investment promotion activities, events of education promotion, and support for the victims of the Yagi storm. “Both sides have very high expectations for this,” he said.
The EC official also highlighted Vietnam’s significant improvement in addressing persistent bilateral issues, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in order to move towards lifting the “yellow card.” The Vietnamese government is moving in the right direction with an advanced  legal framework while the remaining issue is effective monitoring and the implementation of appropriate sanctions, he said. 
On the other hand, while the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is a great  success story, he said,  challenges remain in the automotive industry and agricultural quarantine licensing, which require efforts from both sides to address, thus opening  the wide gate for upgrading ties.
Three key areas and five tools
Many areas of cooperation would benefit from the EU-Vietnam ties leverage, once it’s realized; however, three key areas stand out: green growth, climate change response, and education, according to the EC’s Vice President.
In terms of green growth, many EU businesses recognize that their operations in Vietnam not only bring economic benefits but also reduce environmental harm. The EU will continue to support their enterprises in these fields, particularly through the new Global Gateway initiative, which aims to mobilize  both public and private  finance for green economic development.

Moreover, climate change response—an issue of great interest to both the EU and Vietnam—will be strengthened. EU countries will step up initiatives in this area, as well as develop renewable energy under the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Last but not least,  education, skills training, and research exchanges will also benefit.. The upgrading of  relations will provide opportunities for young Vietnamese to further their studies through programs at EU educational institutions, such as Erasmus+ (the EU program to enhance cooperation and mobility in education, training, youth, and sports), said Margaritis Schinas.
The EU can achieve its goal of tightening cooperation with Vietnam through many new “tools,” noted EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier earlier. Accordingly, the Union can assist  Vietnam in five specific ways.
The first is the EVFTA, which has strengthened trade flows between the EU and Vietnam.
The second is the Global Gateway—a €300 billion fund for infrastructure development technology that supports countries sin a sustainable way, taking into account  the impact of projects on people and the environment.
Another important tool is the Energy Transition Partnership Program (JETP), which has mobilized $15.5 billion  in public and private financing to support Vietnam's transition from coal to renewable energy.
The Horizon Europe program, which funds research and innovation, creates an open platform involving Vietnamese research institutes, encouraging them to engage with the European vision, exchange, and share knowledge, skills, and technology.
Finally, in the area of defense and security cooperation, the EU and Vietnam are partners through the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) while the block has a project to enhance security cooperation in Asia. According to the ambassador, these mechanisms allow both sides to expand cooperation in peacekeeping activities, cybersecurity, maritime capacity building, and shared  goals for regional peace and stability.
Cam Anh

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