David McAllister, rapporteur. – Mr President, the Indo-Pacific has become one of the centres of geopolitical gravity and a rallying point for many global players. Its growing economic, demographic and political weight makes it an increasingly important region in shaping the international order. Therefore, the European Union must increase its efforts and step up its strategic engagement with the region.

Last year, first the Council adopted conclusions on an EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and then the High Representative presented a communication in September last year which reflects the European Union's efforts and ambitions. Tomorrow, we are going to vote in this plenary on the report on the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. This report, from my point of view, assesses the EU strategy with regard to the security dimension, taking into account national strategies and new developments. Generally, my report focuses on four parts that are of key importance.

First, in security and defence for unity among Member States will be key for the EU to assert effectively our presence in the Indo-Pacific and to achieve the ambition of strategic sovereignty amidst the increasing competition among global and regional powers in the region. In the absence of an overarching security architecture in the Indo-Pacific, the European Union should concentrate its efforts on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific for all and on promoting an open and rules-based regional security architecture.

Second, our united approach to the region must also go hand-in-hand with targeted actions aimed at building strong partnerships and security cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries and regional cooperation forums. To do so, we should build on a vast network of trade, partnership and cooperation agreements concluded with a large number of regional countries in the past. A close coordination with our partners in the region is especially important in order to tackle the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The third point: Europe and the countries of the Indo-Pacific share increasingly similar challenges in a number of other security-related areas, such as cyber security, terrorism and non-proliferation. As all these challenges directly affect the EU's own security and prosperity, we need to address them in close cooperation and coordination with regional partners. A particular focus should be given to our key partners and like-minded democracies. Let me name Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Last but not least, the report highlights the necessity to tackle maritime security, cyber, air and space, as well as non-traditional security challenges.

To conclude, let me thank the shadow rapporteurs from all the different political groups and also the team of the High Representative for a really good, constructive and fruitful cooperation on where drafting and working on this report.

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European Parliament’s plenary adopts Report on the EU and the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific
Report on the EU and the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific was adopted by the plenary of the European Parliament with a final vote of 474 in favour, 60 against and 80 abstentions.

This report:
- calls for the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy to be used as a tool to effectively increase its presence and influence in the region through furthering strategic ties and deepening all-inclusive dialogue and cooperation on security- and defence-related matters with regional like-minded countries and organisations;
- highlights that maritime security and freedom of navigation are among the key challenges in the Indo-Pacific;
- underlines that the illegal and unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine has a profound and lasting impact on international relations and that as a result the EU must further consolidate its international engagements, including in particular in the key strategic area of the Indo-Pacific;
- highlights the need to ensure EU unity as a pre-condition to achieve its ambition of open strategic sovereignty amid the increasing multi-faced threats and competition among powers, notably the United States, Russia and China;
- points out that the increasing commitment of the US to the Indo-Pacific has implications for European security and therefore reiterates the need for a capable European Defence Union;
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