"The European Union is forging ever stronger green and blue links to Indonesia" - Main contents

"The European Union is forging ever stronger green and blue links to Indonesia"

Our oceans and landscapes are our future. We depend on them for our food, clean air, materials, our income, and well-being. Their responsible management is key to prevent extinctions of species, hunger, mass migrations and extreme climatic events in the twin battles for climate and biodiversity.

Nobody understands this better than Indonesia, as the largest archipelagic country in the world whose 55,000km of coastline are home to roughly 70% of the population. The European Union, like Indonesia, knows that the success of the 'blue', sustainable ocean economy depends on keeping our oceans healthy.

The challenges are huge. In less than 10 years our oceans could contain one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is worth up to 10 billion euros a year.

That is why the European Union is taking the lead to protect oceans and improve ocean governance around the globe. In November, we launched an initiative to make sure that the world's oceans are managed better and more sustainably.

Indonesia is already a major ally in our push for healthy and productive oceans. We are also natural partners, as the EU is the largest market for fish and sea food in the world and Indonesia the second largest producer (for both fish, … and plastic debris ending as ocean litter!). The European Union follows a zero tolerance policy towards illegal fishing. Since President Widodo has made fighting IUU a priority of its office, Indonesia has reformed its fisheries governance and taken measures to stamp out illegal fishing in its waters. Action is as well taken to extend producers responsibility and reduce waste, thanks to the efforts of front-runners among companies and NGOs. In addition, Indonesia is one of 91 countries to apply the EU catch certification scheme, which allows fisheries products traded with the European Union to be traced all the way from the fishing net to the plate. Responsible buyers, investors and suppliers can only work together, if they are to be genuinely effective.

We see that the drive for better ocean management is gaining momentum around the world, from the UN level to regional organisations such as ASEAN. So the European Union is especially proud to host the fourth "Our Ocean" conference in October 2017. Ministers, business leaders and other ocean champions from around the world will focus on action to protect fragile ocean areas, make fisheries more sustainable, tackle marine pollution, and manage the many impacts of climate change.

Indonesia has announced that it will host "Our Ocean 2018". I look forward to working closely together with Indonesia on this, a point I will raise with Minister Pudjiastuti at the World Ocean Summit in Bali this week.

But the European Union and Indonesia are not just partnering when it comes to keeping our oceans healthy. We are also working together to ensure the sustainability of 'green' land-based resources. Indonesia's forest landscapes are unique biodiversity hotspots, they provide income for rural communities, and shelter all from extreme climatic events. That makes illegal logging or unsustainable palm oil production critically important challenges, as the consequences are social, economic, and environmental.

In 2016 we achieved an important milestone in this area, using trade to promote legality. Last November the first shipment of Indonesian licensed woods departed to Europe, making Indonesia the first country in the world to export such timber to the EU. In 2002, just 20% of Indonesia’s timber was legal. Today, all of Indonesia’s timber exports are from independently audited factories and forests.

We import precious timber, beautiful fishes and snake skins. We therefore feel our duty to step up cooperation against global wildlife trafficking (worth almost 20 billion euros a year, second only to narcotics and human trafficking), targeting the organised criminal groups that control this illegal trade and looking at ways of strengthening enforcement and reducing demand for illegal products.

It's also great to see that the principles of the circular economy - smart use of resources, minimal waste and maximum re-use and recycling of materials - are gaining ground among Indonesian businesses. A more circular economy will also help reduce carbon emissions, a goal both we have all committed to in ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement. I will be glad to discuss those topics with Environment minister Siti Nurbaya in Jakarta. Together, we will also launch a new EU-Indonesia working group on Climate and Environment.

In short, Indonesia is a valued partner. I look forward to deepening our 'blue' and 'green' ties in the months and years to come.

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This article was originally published in TheJakartaPost, on 21 February 2017