Thailand

Thailand, a middle-income nation in Southeast Asia, has a population of 70 million. Over recent decades, the country has undergone rapid economic development and growth. As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand faces significant challenges related to climate change, including frequent floods and droughts.

Thailand has developed key policies such as Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model. Furthermore, Thailand plays a pivotal role in ASEAN cooperation, serving as the co-chair alongside the EU in the ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development.

Thailand and the European Union have established a long-standing partnership in Asia, working together to support a rules-based international order and committing to fostering mutual prosperity and growth. This partnership was further solidified in 2022 with the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. In March 2023, the two parties agreed to relaunch negotiations for an ambitious, modern and balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA), placing a strong emphasis on sustainability.

Under the Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe), the EU Cooperation Facility has allocated EUR 20 million to the partnership with Thailand for the 2021-2027 period. This funding supports a broad spectrum of policy dialogues and cooperation initiatives across various sectors, aligning with EU policy frameworks such as the Global Gateway and the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Key areas of collaboration include sustainable development, environmental and climate change mitigation, trade, as well as education, research, and innovation, with additional investments being channelled through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+).

As a member of ASEAN, Thailand also benefits from several multi-country programmes and cooperates with the EU at regional level. At the EU-ASEAN Summit in December 2022, the EU announced plans for a Team Europe investment of approximately EUR 10 billion in South-East Asia, highlighting two Global Gateway flagship initiatives: the Green Team Europe Initiative and the Team Europe Initiative on Sustainable Connectivity.

Our collaboration in Thailand is dedicated to supporting the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) Facility and promoting the EU-Thailand dialogue on shared priorities. 

During the 2021-2027 period, the EU-Thailand Cooperation Facility will support Thailand's efforts in sustainable development, environmental and climate action, trade, education, research, and innovation, with a focus on fulfilling the 2030 Agenda and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Cooperation Facility plays a crucial role in the implementation of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Global Gateway Strategy.

In alignment with the Global Gateway framework, 2022 marked a significant advancement in EU-Thailand relations with the signing of an administrative arrangement. This agreement is set to promote cooperation in frontier science and facilitate the involvement of Thai researchers in projects funded by the European Research Council.

Additionally, the implementation and upgrading of the critical infrastructure of Thailand's main energy operator, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), is underway. This includes upgrading the operator's infrastructure with smart grid technology, establishing a modern electricity grid with two-way communication between suppliers and consumers for efficient energy management. It's important to note that this initiative is financed and led by Poland; the EU does not contribute to this initiative.

EU delegation to Thailand