Singapore and European Union relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Singapore and the European Union. The two entities generally maintain good relations.[1][2] Their leaders hold regular exchanges, and Singapore has an extensive network of embassies within the European Union.[1] Singapore's relations with the European Union date back to Singapore's independence in 1965,[2][3] and to date, they have signed multiple agreements.[4]
The EU views Singapore as a crucial partner financially in a quickly developing region.[2] Singapore remains the EU's most important economic partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is one if its top partners globally.[5]
The European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), which was first proposed in 2013, is regarded by some as "the cornerstone of economic ties."[4] It was signed on 19 October 2018.[6] It aims to remove barriers to trade and investment in the EU and Singapore.[2] The EUSFTA, which is pending ratification, would be the first bilateral pact between the EU and an ASEAN nation.[7] The agreement was met with widespread approval with many companies welcoming the agreement.[8] The agreement might lead the way to more similar pacts in Asia.[7]
Among other things, the agreement would reduce tariffs for the importing and exporting of goods between Singapore and the EU.[9] Business in both areas may also bid on government projects.[9] All ASEAN products would be considered as being from Singapore when determining tariff rates.[9]
There are many expatriates from Singapore living in the EU and vice versa,[10][11] and there are numerous resources available to help in the process of expatriation.[12][13][14] There are also many agencies catering to expatriates.[15] Expatriates usually have a great relationship with their host country.[16]
The European Union and Singapore have very different policies regarding human rights, but they still maintain good relations.[2] One example is the death penalty. The European Union is widely opposed to the death penalty,[17][18][19] and considers that the abolition of the death penalty would lead to an increase in human dignity and the development of human rights.[17][19] Singapore, on the other hand, imposes the death penalty for crimes such as drug trafficking and murder.[20][21] Occasionally, this ignites a discussion of human rights and the morality of the death penalty, such as in the case of Prabu Pathmanathan.[22][23]
Censorship in Singapore primarily targets political, racial and religious issues.[24][25] Singapore ranks 151st among 180 countries for censorship according to Reporters Without Borders.[26] The EU, in turn, generally has the greatest amount of freedom of expression in the world.[26] For a country to join the EU, it must first guarantee freedom of expression as a basic human right.[27]
^"Death Penalty - Singapore". Cornell Center on the Death Penalty. Cornell Law School. Archived from the original on 2018-08-22. Retrieved 6 November 2018.