The European Union, Thailand, and ASEAN partners strengthen regional cooperation against online scams and cyber-enabled crime

The Delegation of the European Union to Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of the Kingdom of Thailand co-organised the event, with the support of the EU-funded ESIWA+ project. It brought together representatives from government agencies, law enforcement, regulators, financial authorities, civil society and international organisations, including UNODC and IOM.
 

EUDEL Thailand

H.E. Luisa Ragher  Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand, said:

“Cyber-enabled scams are evolving quickly. But our cooperation can move faster. This seminar is an excellent opportunity to move from fragmented responses to coordinated action, from shared concerns to shared solutions, and from dialogue to trust, to become more resolute in fighting this common scourge.” 
 

EUDEL Thailand

H.E. Sarun Charoensuwan, Special Envoy of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand said: 

“Online scams and cyber-enabled crime are not only criminal threats; they are also a challenge to public trust, economic security and regional stability. Thailand believes that stronger cooperation among ASEAN Member States, the European Union and international partners is essential to protect our people, disrupt criminal networks and uphold the rule of law in the digital domain.”

Kalaya Chinatiworn, Principal Advisor, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, said:
“Prevention, victim protection and coordinated disruption must go hand in hand. This requires close cooperation between governments, law enforcement, financial institutions, digital platforms, civil society and international organisations. Thailand is committed to advancing such cooperation with ASEAN partners and with the European Union.”

Across two days, participants discussed practical responses to a shared challenge that affects citizens, institutions and digital economies across regions. The seminar was structured around four mutually reinforcing pillars:

• law enforcement, investigation and prosecution of cyber-enabled scams and financial fraud

• victim protection, safeguarding of vulnerable populations and human rights considerations

• public awareness, prevention strategies and societal resilience

• regional and cross-regional cooperation, including public-private partnerships
   

EUDEL Thailand

The seminar took place amid growing concern across Southeast Asia and beyond about the expansion of scam networks, cyber-enabled fraud, illicit financial flows and the exploitation of vulnerable persons, including links with trafficking and other online harms. It also built on previous Thailand–EU engagement on scams and cybercrime, including the August 2025 seminar on safeguarding digital societies and the February 2026 visit by EU representatives to Thailand’s Anti-Online Scam Operation Center. During that visit, both sides discussed stronger information sharing, capacity building and cross-border coordination.

A central theme throughout the seminar was the importance of ASEAN-centred cooperation, supported by international and cross-regional partnerships. Participants underlined that effective responses require closer coordination among ASEAN Member States and can also benefit from the experience of the European Union and the engagement of international organisations such as UNODC and IOM, as well as other specialised actors working on cybercrime, trafficking, victim support and cross-border justice cooperation.

Participants also highlighted that efforts to address scam networks must remain anchored in the rule of law, international law, and respect for national legal frameworks and human rights obligations. They saw international cooperation against cyber-enabled crime not only as a security necessity, but also as a means to strengthen public trust, protect victims, and reinforce resilience in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.

EU action in cyber security in the Indo-Pacific:

The EU supports cybersecurity cooperation with partners across the Indo-Pacific through a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience, protecting critical infrastructure, enhancing cyber crisis management capabilities and combating cybercrime.

EU projects to foster collaboration in cybersecurity and the fight against cyber-enabled crime include ESIWA+, EU CyberNet, and EU Cyber Direct, which facilitate exchanges of expertise, capacity-building activities and regional cooperation between governments, industry and academia.

About the EU ESIWA+ project (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific): 

ESIWA+ contributes to the EU’s security and defence cooperation with the Indo-Pacific by organising peer-to-peer activities in four thematic areas: counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism, crisis management/addressing hybrid threats, cyber security, and maritime security. The project is co-funded by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the German Federal Foreign Office, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. ESIWA+ is co-implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Expertise France.