Exploring the EU – Democracy, Parliament, & Global Outlook

Jakarta, 21 February 2024 – Indonesia and the European Union – have a strong relationship based on working together and addressing those big, global problems. So, when the EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, H.E. Denis Chaibi, visited BINUS University, it was a great chance to learn more about how this partnership functions.

Ambassador Chaibi began by talking about something familiar to everyone: elections. Indonesia had theirs recently, and the EU has a major one coming this June. Furthermore, the important thing about democracy is that it’s not only about the majority winning. It’s also ensuring everyone has a voice, that rights are protected, and that there are open discussions, even when things get complicated.

Next, Mr. Antoine Ripoll, the Director of the Liaison Office, who came alongside Ambassador Chaibi, explored the room of the European Parliament. Things were different in the past. It began in 1957, ensuring input from each country. But since 1979, a meaningful change, ordinary people across Europe directly choose their leaders, giving them a more vital role in the EU’s direction.

Moderated by Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi, M.A., our International Relations lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, summarized how this lecture will give insight on the complexities of international relationships and how something like the EU Parliament affects things globally. Learning about how they practice democracy and how Indonesia fits into that picture expands our understanding of the world.