아시아-유럽 정상회의(ASEM) 25주년 평가와 한국의 활용전략(The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) at 25: Background, Main Achievements and Policy Implications)

본 연구는 1996년 출범한 아시아-유럽정상회의(ASEM)가 지난 25년간의 협력과정에서 이룩한 성과를 평가하고 한국의 활용전략을 제안할 목적으로 수행되었다. 새로운 거버넌스 지표를 도입하여 지난 20여 년간 ASEM의 협력과정에서 한국 포함 ASEM 회원국의 지역 내 및 지역 간 추세와 특징을 고찰하였다. 분석 결과 한국은 공공부문, 시장, 시민사회를 포함한 모든 영역에서 ASEM 회원국 평균을 훨씬 상회하는 높은 성장률을 시현함으로써 대다수의 소항목에서 현저하게 개선된 순위를 나타냈다. 특히 행정, 시장환경 및 복지 분야에서 한국의 위상이 두드러진 것으로 밝혀졌진바, 본 연구는 이 세 분야와 고등교육협력 분야에서 한국의 역할이 강화될 필요가 있다는 점을 결론으로 제시하였다. This study was conducted to analyze the background factors and achievements of the ASEM process over the past 25 years since its establishment and to draw policy implications for Korea. After the Introduction, Chapter 2 reviewed, in a detailed manner, the background factors of and the roles assigned to the ASEM process. Especially, ASEM was identified as an inter-regional cooperation mechanism between the two continents – Asia and Europe – that was established in order to fill the ‘missing link’. The intention of European countries to intensify cooperative relationship with Asian countries that had been increasingly recognized as ‘the potential center of global economic growth’ was a mian background factor that led to the establishment of ASEM. Also crucial was the desire of Asian countries to diversify their diplomatic relationship and to cultivate the biggest internal market provided by the European integration process. In addition to its traditional role to foster and enhance the cooperative relationship between Asia and Europe, the ASEM process also contributed to strengthening the intra-regional cooperation within Asia by providing them with motivations to establish the ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit (EAS), which can be regarded as a very positive by-product. Chapter 3 was fully devoted to the evaluation of ASEM cooperation. First of all, the study looked into the agenda items of twelve summit meetings held until October 2021 in order to identify the main direction of cooperation in the ASEM process. Also, the study thoroughly investigated the cooperation agenda discussed and the frequncy of ministerial meetings, and found out that the ASEM process has been well-balnaced between political and economic policy areas. (the rest omitted)