The TNI programme "Asia Europe Relations: The People's Agenda" has been developed in close co-operation with partner organisations in the Asian region and is currently focused on the themes of:

The TNI programme "Asia Europe Relations: The People's Agenda" has been developed in close co-operation with partner organisations in the Asian region and is currently focused on the themes of:

• Democratisation, security and peace
• Trade, investment and ODA flows
• Impact of World Bank, IMF and WTO policies
• Civil society initiatives, particularly in relation to ASEM

The programme conducts research and field visits in the region; organises Conferences and Seminars and coordinates Advocacy and Lobby initiatives both in Europe and Asia.

A series of articles, briefing papers and books have been published by the programme team. An e-mail Bulletin, ASEM Watch monitoring the ASEM process is published regularly and back issues are available online.

The programme aims to:

• Provide a critical analysis of significant developments in Asia, including the role of EU policy towards the region, from the perspective of civil society
• Strengthen the development of people to people linkages and networks between Europe and Asia
• Develop joint advocacy strategies on issues of common concern

• Introduction
• Charter
• Asem People's Forum Documents

Introduction

The Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF) was created in 1996 by a range of civil society organisations and NGOs from Europe and Asia in order to monitor the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that was established that same year.

Since its creation the Asia Europe People's Forum (AEPF) has organised meetings parallel to ASEM with the aim of making the ASEM process more accountable, transparent and open to civil society. AEPF has pushed for ASEM to thoroughly combine economic integration with political, social and cultural issues. It has tackled, furthermore, more general concerns such as social justice, civic participation and democracy, human rights, gender equality, poverty eradication and the environment. Together with these aims the AEPF has the strategic purpose of raising awareness about ASEAN policies among the peoples of Asia and Europe; AEPF helps increase the transnational solidarity and interaction between non-governmental organisations and social movements.

The Charter of the Asia Europe People's Forum

ASEM People's Forum Documents

Over the past years, the AEPF has produced a number of strategic documents setting a framework for cooperation and clarifying its objectives:

• A People's Vision. Towards a More Just, Equal and Sustainable World. Seoul 2000
• A Proposal for Integrating a Social Dimension in the ASEM Process. Berlin, 2002
• Human Rights, People's Security, and Sustainable Development- Under Attack
  No To Militarisation and Unfair Trade! Copenhagen 2002
• Action not Gimmicks. Asia Europe People's Forum Rejects Proposed Trust Fund. London 1998
• Recommendations to the ASEM from the Asia Europe NGO Conference on the Future of Asian Euro Nations. Bangkok 1996