Julien Guerrier. EU Ambassador to Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Đức

By EU Ambassador Julien Guerrier

Every year on 9 May, we celebrate Europe Day, a moment to reflect on Europe’s journey and the future we want to build. This year feels especially meaningful in Việt Nam.

Only a few months ago, the European Union and Việt Nam upgraded our ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This was more than a formal milestone: it recognised a relationship that has grown in trust, depth and ambition for over 35 years. 

I still remember when our cooperation centred mainly on development assistance. Today, it spans trade, the green transition, innovation, education and security. What matters is not only how much we do together, but why: a shared belief in cooperation, fairness and a world governed by rules rather than power alone.

Europe Day is also a timely moment to consider why this partnership matters in an increasingly uncertain world.

Europe’s strategic autonomy

Europe was built on a powerful promise: that countries once divided by war could choose cooperation, peace and shared prosperity. That promise still defines the European Union. Yet the world around us has changed. Geopolitical tensions are rising, economic uncertainty is growing, and the rules-based order is under pressure. Trust between nations can no longer be assumed.

In this context, Europe’s strategic autonomy matters more than ever. This does not mean isolation. Europe remains open and engaged with partners worldwide, including Việt Nam. But this autonomy means having the capacity to act: to protect our interests, defend our values, and make our own choices in a more complex global environment. 

It also means investing in resilience — from energy and technology to supply chains and defence — and standing firm in support of democracy, human rights and international law.

This is the Europe we bring to our partnership with Việt Nam: a reliable, credible and predictable partner, strong enough to remain open and ready to contribute to stability and prosperity beyond our borders.

Defending what matters

Recent years have shown that peace cannot be taken for granted. As Kaja Kallas, our EU foreign policy chief, has said: “Peace is not free. It must be defended every day.” 

Around the world, we see conflict, heightened tensions and new threats — from cyber attacks to disinformation. For Europe, protecting our citizens and our values has become a priority.

But defence, in the European sense, goes beyond military strength. It is about protecting a way of life based on freedom, dignity and the rule of law.

We promote a rules-based international order, with the UN charter at its core. We support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, here in Southeast Asia as well as in our neighbourhood, where Ukraine is seeking a just and lasting peace.

Defending what matters also means upholding principles we share with partners such as Việt Nam: respect for sovereignty, peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international law.

Here our cooperation is increasingly practical. In maritime security, cybersecurity and peacekeeping, the European Union and Việt Nam already work closely together. Việt Nam’s participation in EU-led peacekeeping missions and our joint engagement in security programmes reflect a shared commitment to stability — not only in our regions, but globally.

Security today is interconnected: events in one part of the world affect us all. That is why defending Europe also means working with trusted partners like Việt Nam to build a safer, more stable world.

A partnership that delivers

Upgrading our relationship reflects what we have achieved and the ambitions we share for the future.

In trade, the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement has delivered tangible results. It has boosted exchanges, expanded opportunities for businesses and strengthened economic ties. Beyond the figures, it demonstrates that fair, rules-based trade can work and can benefit both sides.

As for the green transition, we are working side by side to support Việt Nam’s path towards a more sustainable future. Through initiatives such as the Global Gateway and the Just Energy Transition Partnership, we are investing in long-term solutions: clean energy, sustainable infrastructure and resilient growth.

Just weeks after upgrading our ties, this momentum was on display at the EU–Việt Nam Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum in March. The strong interest from businesses on both sides underlined that our partnership is not only political; it is driven by real demand, practical opportunities and a clear desire to work more closely together.

In innovation and education, cooperation continues to deepen. Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe connect people, ideas and institutions. I have met many talented Vietnamese students and professionals who have studied or worked in Europe. They are, in many ways, the true bridges between our regions.

What matters most, however, is the spirit behind all of this. In a fragmented world, cooperation is not always easy — but it is more necessary than ever. No country can face today’s challenges alone. Climate change, economic uncertainty, digital transformation and pressures on the international system affect us all. Meeting them requires partnership, trust and shared responsibility.

For the European Union, building partnerships is not just a policy choice — it is part of who we are. We believe in working with others, finding common ground and supporting a rules-based international order. Our partnership with Việt Nam is a strong example of that approach.

Together, we contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific. Together, we support sustainable development and green growth. Together, we help strengthen the multilateral system that has underpinned decades of global progress. And together, we send an important message: cooperation remains possible — and necessary — even in uncertain times.

Looking ahead with confidence

On Europe Day, I feel both reflective and optimistic.

Reflective, because Europe’s experience reminds us that peace and unity are never automatic — they are built step by step through determination and cooperation.

Optimistic, because EU–Việt Nam relations are stronger than ever. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new chapter — one where we deepen cooperation in the areas that matter most, learn from each other and work together to shape a more stable, prosperous and sustainable world.

Europe Day is ultimately about people — and the choices we make to work together rather than apart.

Here in Việt Nam, I see that spirit every day. Together, Europe and Việt Nam can turn shared challenges into shared opportunities and build a future that delivers for our citizens, our regions and the world. —VNS