Reintegrating Myanmar

Commentary feature. The parliamentary by-elections in Myanmar [formerly called Burma] earlier in 2012 were a litmus test for the country's transition to democracy and the regime's commitment to reform. The authors suggest that the elections now give the opportunity for the West and Europe to consider scaling back sanctions, which have caused acute poverty and underdevelopment.

Richard Youngs is director general and Gauri Khandekar is head of the Agora EU-Asia programme, both at the Madrid-based think tank, FRIDE.

EUObserver, 18.4.12: EU countries to reward Burma reforms http://euobserver.com/24/115926

ESO: Background information: Myanmar: Would Europe get back in the picture please? http://www.europeansources.info/record/myanmar-would-europe-get-back-in-the-picture-please/

ESO: Background information: Myanmar sanction talks set to intensify http://www.europeansources.info/record/myanmar-sanction-talks-set-to-intensify/

EEAS: The EU's relations with Burma / Myanmar http://eeas.europa.eu/myanmar/index_en.htm

FRIDE: Agora Asia-Europe http://www.fride.org/project/27/agora-asia-europe

---