About the book

Céline C. Cocq’s book provides a detailed theoretical and practical analysis of a key concept in cooperation, namely mutual trust, in the EU and ASEAN regions. It particularly looks at the issue of counterterrorism. It analyses the differences in the legalistic approach of the EU and the consultation and consensus-based approach in the ASEAN region, and the correlation between mutual trust and regional and interregional cooperation against terrorism. Thereby, this book extends the well-known concept of counterterrorism in EU criminal law to another regional case in order to analyse its possible use and operationalisation in other regions. It provides important findings on whether and, if so, how the EU and ASEAN legal frameworks have facilitated intra-regional – and potentially interregional – cooperation. In order to measure trust, it focuses on information sharing, and discusses the terminology related to this matter, the mechanisms of cooperation, and the difficulties and successes of information sharing.

On March 20th, the IEE will host a book launch event to present the most important findings of the book. The author will discuss the topic with the following discussants: 

  • Leila Fernandez Stembridge has a long experience in the relations between the EU and Asian countries and is now the Head of the Southeast Asian Division at the EEAS;
  • Bruno Hellendorff‘s research focuses on defence and security issues in Europe-Asia relation, with a special interest in the role of Indonesia;
  • Anne Weyembergh is a professor at the IEE-ULB specialised in EU criminal law and co-supervisor of Céline Cocq’s PhD. 

About the author

Dr. Céline C. Cocq is a legal expert in justice and home affairs. Her expertise covers security and criminal matters at the national, regional (e.g. the European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations) and international levels: counterterrorism, cooperation mechanisms, data sharing, human rights law, armed conflicts and humanitarian law.

She holds a PhD in law delivered jointly by the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the University of Geneva in April 2021, in which she analyses regional and interregional cooperation in counterterrorism-related matters, with a specific focus on the EU and ASEAN. She also holds several graduate degrees in law and criminology from both Belgium (ULB) and France (Lille II, University of Aix-Marseille).

Beside her research and continued membership of the European Criminal Law Network (ECLAN), she has acted as a legal and political analyst for several EU and UN funded actors such as: Europol, European research consortia, or the Terrorism Prevention Office of UNODC-ROSEAP. Recently, she worked as at the specialised prosecutor’s office in Fort-de-France dealing with complex and serious (transnational) offences. She is presently working for the prosecutor’s office in Avignon as a specialised assistant for the prevention of terrorist acts.

Practical information

Date : March 20th, 2025

Time : 18:00-20:00 (followed by a drink)

Where: Institut d’études européennes (salle Geremek)

Registration: