The EU-ASEAN
Business Council (EU-ABC)
Who We Are
The EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) is the primary voice for European business within the ASEAN region.
Photo: ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn meeting EU-ABC delegates during a Business Mission to Indonesia in 2025.
Recognised by the EU & ASEAN
We are the only business association in Southeast Asia that is formally recognised by both the European Commission and ASEAN Secretariat, and accredited under Annex 2 of the ASEAN Charter.
Independent of both, the Council is the premier dialogue and advocacy partner on trade and investment issues across the ASEAN region for the European business community.
Helping EU Businesses Thrive
We engage directly with governments and key decision-makers to advance our members’ interests, representing European businesses across multiple sectors and on cross-sectoral issues. These include sustainability, healthcare, digital technology, FMCG, and customs & trade facilitation, among others. Our mission is to advocate for policy and regulatory changes to improve the trade and investment environment in Southeast Asia, working towards an ASEAN where European businesses can thrive.
A Key Regional Partner
We are also key partner in the official EU-ASEAN Plan of Action, in which both regions recognise us as the business organisation to further private-public partnership and for governments to implement our recommendations.
Our Mission
At the EU-ABC, we work to promote changes in policies, rules and regulations to ease European investment and business development in the ASEAN region. Our goal is to strengthen EU-ASEAN trade ties, uplifting local economies and populations and facilitating the growth of European-ASEAN trade.
- Advocate for European business interests in the ASEAN region
- Push for the reduction and eventual elimination of barriers to trade
- Facilitate trade and investment between Europe and ASEAN
- Collaborate and interact with the ASEAN Secretariat and other related bodies
- Contribute to and promote pan-ASEAN economic integration
- Support the establishment of an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement, and FTAs between the EU and ASEAN Member States in the meantime.
Photo: EU-ABC Chairman Jens Ruebbert with Vietnam DPM Tran Luu Quang
during a Business Mission to Vietnam in 2024.
Constitution & Governance
The EU-ASEAN Business Council is registered as a Society with the Register of Societies in Singapore. It is governed via a formal written Constitution, approved by its Members and lodged with the Register of Societies the latest version of the Constitution can be found below.
Photo: EU-ABC Chairman Jens Ruebbert (right) and Executive Director Chris Humphrey (left) engaging guests during a closed-door VIP breakfast at the ASEAN-EU Health Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Constitution sets out, amongst other things, the role of the Business Council, its membership and its governing elements. The general management and operation of the Business Council is arranged and managed by the General Assembly, also known as its Annual General Meeting; the Supervisory Board; the Executive Board; and the Secretariat of the Business Council. The day-to-day administration of the Business Council is entrusted to the Executive Board, and executed by the Secretariat.
The supreme authority of the Business Council is vested in the General Assembly. The General Assembly, which consists of all of the Members of the Business Council, both MNC Members and the European Chambers from Southeast Asia, meets once a year and has the responsibility to: elect the Chairman and appoint the members of the Executive Board; approve the annual report and annual accounts; appoint auditors and be informed of the budget. It also has the ability, subject to a qualified majority voting mechanism, to amend the Constitution.