Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam Julien Guerrier
Mr. Julien Guerrier expressed optimism about Vietnam's development prospects in the coming time when talking to reporters of the Government Electronic Newspaper about Vietnam's achievements in the 2021-2026 period, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of EU-Vietnam diplomatic relations (November 28, 1990 - November 28, 2025).
Partnerships that thrive
Over the past decades, the Vietnam-EU partnership has expanded significantly in many areas. Could you please share some of the outstanding achievements in the bilateral relationship?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : Diplomatic relations were established in 1990 — marking the official beginning of a relationship that has continued to grow ever since. Today, we can confidently and proudly affirm that this is a truly meaningful partnership that has grown tremendously — from bilateral, regional to global — not only in terms of economic but also, and increasingly, in terms of political cooperation.
In the initial phase, the focus of our cooperation was a joint humanitarian program, supporting the resettlement of more than 100,000 Vietnamese people who had fled the country by sea.
Thirty-five years later, cooperation between the two sides has expanded to many areas, including trade, environment, energy, science and technology, governance, cultural exchange, migration, anti-corruption and organized crime, as well as peace and security.
Vietnam has become an increasingly important partner of the European Union, sharing a strong commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order. In 2016, the two sides signed the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which has laid the foundation for bilateral relations ever since.
The progress we have made together is most clearly demonstrated by the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) – the EU’s first with a developing country. Since its entry into force in 2020, bilateral trade has increased by around 40%, taking our economic relationship to unprecedented heights.
In terms of development cooperation, the EU currently manages a grant portfolio of almost €300 million, with around €160 million in the pipeline. Our priorities include sustainable green growth, decent jobs and responsible business, as well as good governance.
The EU’s largest programme in Vietnam currently focuses on supporting Vietnam’s energy transition, providing technical assistance to Government agencies with a total budget of €142 million. This demonstrates our shared commitment to promoting sustainable development, the rule of law and human rights.
In 2019, the two sides signed a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA), allowing Vietnam to participate in EU-led missions and activities. This is the first agreement that the EU has signed with an ASEAN country, marking an important step forward in our joint efforts to contribute to global peace and security.
The signing of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is an important milestone in bilateral relations between the two sides, and 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the agreement’s implementation. Could you share some of the positive results that the EVFTA has brought about since its entry into force?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : The EVFTA came into effect at a pivotal time — when Vietnam needed trade liberalization more than ever. The agreement was implemented just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the global economy and Vietnam hard. In the context of declining global consumer demand, the EVFTA became a "cushion" to help the Vietnamese economy minimize the negative impact. Vietnam's exports still achieved double-digit growth, while global exports declined significantly. In 2021, when most economies in the world were struggling, Vietnam still achieved export growth of 5.1%, and this growth momentum has been maintained over the past five years, with an average growth rate of more than 10% per year.
On the EU side, the implementation of the trade agreement has also brought positive growth, albeit at a more modest level, of around 5% per year. From the EU’s perspective, there is still much room for better results, especially if we ensure full and effective implementation of the EVFTA. This will also help the EVFTA become a solid foundation for future EU-Vietnam cooperation, in new areas of mutual interest. Vietnam’s ambitions in economic growth, human resource development, technological upgrading, as well as the desire to attract more foreign and EU investors, all require such cooperation.
The entry into force of the EVFTA has helped capital and technology flows from the EU into Vietnam increase to more than 30 billion euros, compared to the previous level of 22 billion euros.
In today’s uncertain world, the EVFTA is a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to free, fair and rules-based trade. Overall, the agreement has become a model for other FTAs that the EU is negotiating and will continue to negotiate.
Although the EVFTA has opened up many new opportunities, it has also posed many challenges for Vietnamese businesses. So, Ambassador, what are these challenges, and what steps should the Vietnamese Government take to more effectively exploit the potential of the agreement?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : The EVFTA sets out certain technical requirements that the parties must comply with. For example, the rules of origin require exporters from Vietnam to follow specific procedures. Currently, Vietnam has achieved 84.4% utilization of the EVFTA incentives. However, we understand that many of the relevant procedures are still carried out on paper rather than digitally. Therefore, there is still room for cost reduction and process simplification for Vietnamese exporters — especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). There is also potential for further customs cooperation in the future.
Compliance with labor and environmental commitments in the EVFTA is also extremely important, because the EU and other markets have these requirements. For Vietnam, proactively applying and complying with commitments early will bring a pioneering advantage . The EU continues to support Vietnam in raising awareness and compliance capacity . At the same time, integrating basic labor rights into business operations also brings clear economic benefits , contributing to improving productivity and business efficiency.
Towards upgrading the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Looking to the future, could the Ambassador share the European Union's (EU) strategic orientation in its partnership with Vietnam?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : Building on a solid and mutually beneficial relationship, the European Union and Vietnam are well placed to explore new cooperation opportunities together. The current global context provides favorable conditions for both sides to enhance their cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, innovation and sustainable growth.
Therefore, the EU is working closely with Vietnam to upgrade the bilateral relationship to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will be an important milestone, demonstrating the depth and maturity of the relationship between the two sides.
Looking ahead, we see great potential for further strengthening cooperation in the green transition and other key areas for sustainable development. In addition, the EU aims to promote cooperation in research, science and technology, digital transformation, connectivity, and the semiconductor sector – all key pillars for the future.
In the current uncertain global context, strengthening joint efforts in the field of security and defence – including maritime security, cyber security and crisis management – is particularly important. By deepening cooperation in these strategic areas, the EU and Vietnam can continue to make a positive contribution to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.
In the coming years, which areas will the European Union prioritize in development cooperation with Vietnam, Ambassador?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : In the coming years, development cooperation between the EU and Vietnam will focus on translating the EU's Global Gateway Strategy into concrete actions — supporting green and digital transitions , sustainable development and innovation through science, technology and skills development .
A central priority during this period is the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), through which the EU will continue to mobilize investment capital and technical expertise to support Vietnam in its transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, and its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The EU is also engaging in the transport sector through a large-scale financial coordination mechanism, combining EU aid and concessional loans from the European Development Banks, to promote decarbonisation and improve sustainable connectivity.
All these efforts are carried out under the “Team Europe” approach, combining the strengths of the EU and its Member States, to deliver effective, comprehensive and inclusive cooperation, in line with Vietnam’s long-term development vision.
Dear Ambassador, what recommendations does the European Union have to help Vietnam maintain economic growth and achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country with a green, sustainable and digital economy?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : The European Union fully supports Vietnam’s aspirations to build a green, sustainable and digital economy. Through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the EU and Vietnam are working together to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable growth, contributing to Vietnam’s just, inclusive and environmentally responsible energy transition.
Within the framework of the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU also aims to mobilize high-quality investment and resources from the private sector to strengthen sustainable infrastructure, transport, connectivity and innovation — key elements for sustaining inclusive growth and economic resilience.
In addition, investment in digital transformation and skills development is also particularly important, helping to ensure that Vietnam’s economic transformation processes are future-ready, highly competitive and in line with global sustainable development goals. A highly digitally skilled workforce and an innovation-based economy will help Vietnam participate more deeply in the global value chain and realize the goal of becoming a high-income country.
To maintain sustainable economic growth, strong trade and investment cooperation is indispensable. Vietnam can achieve this by making better use of the incentives of the EVFTA, thereby fully and effectively implementing bilateral commitments. At the same time, it is necessary to create more favorable, faster and transparent conditions for investors when coming to Vietnam. EuroCham Vietnam has made many very useful recommendations in this area, and the EU business community, EU member states and the entire European Union are ready to accompany and support Vietnam on this promising development journey.
In terms of investment, policies need to be stable, consistent and reliable. Vietnam should aim to become a more attractive destination for products and services with high added value and advanced technology. The EU is a reliable, safe and experienced partner, with capital, technology and expertise in many key areas for Vietnam. Attracting these resources to Vietnam requires sincerity, strategic vision and concrete actions.
Strategically, the two sides' discussions towards upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will create a strong driving force to promote deeper and broader cooperation, bringing practical benefits to both sides.
Government reform helps raise Vietnam's status and attractiveness
Finally, could the Ambassador share his assessment of Vietnam's development achievements during the current term of the Government?
Ambassador Julien Guerrier : The Vietnamese government has launched a comprehensive modernization effort, including restructuring state agencies, merging several provinces, and issuing many new regulations in the digital and energy sectors.
Vietnam is also investing heavily in energy, transport and digital infrastructure — essential to sustaining the country’s current economic growth.
Through the Global Gateway Initiative, the European Union stands ready to support Vietnam in investing in sustainable, reliable and high-quality infrastructure, while strengthening capacity and sharing experience to build a world-class legal framework that will help build confidence for future investors.
The EU business community is also playing an important role in the development of the Vietnamese economy, as well as in promoting trade and absorbing new technology, as clearly demonstrated by the Green Economy Forum to be held in Hanoi on November 27 this year.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
Huong Giang
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dai-su-eu-cai-cach-cua-viet-nam-se-tiep-tuc-thu-hut-nha-dau-tu-nuoc-ngoai-10225111116460289.htm
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