BANGKOK, Thailand – Mr. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information, and Mrs. Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, jointly organized roundtable discussion titled ‘Thailand-EU Relations: How will Thailand benefit from the PCA’ on 18 October.
The discussion shared and exchanged opinions among the public and private sectors, media, and academics on the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Thailand and the European Union. The speakers included the Director-General of Trade Negotiations, representatives from the Federation of Thai Industries, and the European Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University, and The Nation Group as media partner.
Topics of discussion included the developments in negotiations which has extended for 20 years, geopolitical context, connection between the PCA and the Thailand-EU FTA negotiation, the possibility of negotiating a Schengen visa exemption, Thailand’s opportunity to apply for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), etc.
The PCA between Thailand and the EU, approved by the Thai Parliament on 29 August 2023, elevates Thailand’s relationship with the European Union to a closer partnership and provides Thailand with opportunities to enhance standards in economics, trade, investment, industry, environment, and human resource development, among others. (MFA)
