The member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) have observed the Euro crisis that has hit the European Union (EU) since
2009. It goes without saying that the EU’s integration path has inspired a similar
regional movement in Southeast Asia. ASEAN member countries often refer to
events in the EU. The EU’s prolonged iinancial crisis has not only been instructive
to ASEAN countries, but also changed their perceptions of the EU. In addition, the
crisis has created momentum for ASEAN and EU to re»address their relationship.
This article addresses the impact ofthe EU’s financial crisis on the inter-regional
cooperative hamework, expressed through the EU-ASEAN dialogue, ASEAN Regional
Forum, and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). In assessing the impact of the fallout on
the inter-regional relations, data for this study were collected from otiicial documents,
a literature review, and interviews with government officials, members of the busi-
ness community, and scholars from ASEAN member countries. This article argues
that ASEAN countries continue to acknowledge the EU as an important partner, but
the characteristics of the inter-regional relations are likely to change. The prolonged
financial crisis has diminished the Southeast Asians’ perceptions ofthe EU as a
competent economic power, powerful, ther, they recognize that global power has
shilted to Asia.