A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels said they considered it was "appropriate to pursue a gradual political re-engagement with Thailand". The EU "has decided therefore to resume political contact at all levels with Thailand in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue", the ministers said in a text approved at the meeting. EU ministers halted all official visits to Thailand and suspended the signing of a partnership and cooperation accord with Bangkok in June 2014 after the army ousted the elected government. But Prayut's election promise and other measures such as the end of prosecuting civilians in military courts for certain offences have persuaded the EU to re-engage. The military has further enshrined its role by declaring that any future administration must adhere to its "legally binding 20-year-plan" for the country.//AFP

Source: The Nation Bangkok December 11, 2017 14:00 UTC