Ernst B. Haas coined the theory of neo-functionalism to describe the European integration project. Haas later declared the theory obsolete after Charles De Gaulle's empty chair politics. The European Coal and Steel Community personified the neo-functionalist understanding of integration. From a coal and steel community, the European project progressively became an economic and political union which is now described by a multitude of theoretical approaches, including the regulatory approach, international regime analysis, liberal inter-governmentalism, the policy-network approach, multilateral governance, institutionalism, rationalism, constructionism, reflectivism and post-modernism.

A common refrain nowadays is that "America innovates, China duplicates and Europe regulates". At a recent summit in Paris, the US and UK refused to sign an international agreement on artificial intelligence. France, China and India signed the agreement. Donald Trump has bypassed Europe to begin negotiations with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine. Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia to discuss the prospect of ending the Ukraine War. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenksyy, whom Trump has labelled a 'dictator', has called for the creation of a European Army amid fears over Trump's commitment to NATO.

The European Union has a military staff. A defense attaché has been sent to the EU delegation in Bangladesh. Italy and Sweden have been considered as sources of high-tech arms and aircraft for the modernization of the Bangladeshi military, which currently procures 80 percent of its equipment from China. The EU has been broadly supportive of the interim government's reform agenda. The EU has signed an agreement with the interim government to support and facilitate reforms. The EU wants Bangladesh's transition to succeed because failure is not an option. In return, the EU is hoping for a like-minded partner which can spur a new era of strategic cooperation and engagement in Bangladesh 2.0.

The EU expects solidarity on core values, including shared universal values and defending sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine. Bangladesh and Europe also share Abrahamic values given the Abrahamic roots of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition. Bangladesh has several treaties with the EU, including a longstanding Cooperation Agreement covering trade, development and human rights. A Multi-annual Indicative Programme was set into motion in 2021. Under the EU Enhanced Engagement with Bangladesh as a GSP EBA beneficiary, a National Action Plan on labour reforms was put in place.

The interim government has established a Labour Reform Commission with a mandate for "labour market reform, ensuring labour rights as well as social protection and welfare for workers". This represents the most serious effort at labour reform in Bangladesh's recent history. While past governments have enacted social justice legislation since the 1970s, the interim government has the opportunity to bring about sweeping reforms and update labour laws in line with the necessary global standards. The Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) is among the organizations which are providing recommendations to the commission, including updating the Labour Act 2006 and Labour Rules 2015, digitizing Labour Courts, options for industrial disputes settlement, promoting safe and healthy working environments, delivering social security and welfare, and ensuring women's rights, equality, non-discrimination, wages and fair share, the right to work, opportunity, guarantee and inclusion, and the right to association, participation, representation and collective bargaining.

Michael Miller, the current EU ambassador to Bangladesh, is an Oxbridge man from Ireland. The Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed posted on social media about how the two men were "an Oxford man and a Cambridge man". Miller studied in Cambridge while Justice Ahmed went to Oxford.

At the Ambassador's Lecture Series of the Cosmos Foundation and Bay of Bengal Institute, Miller emphasized the prime importance of labour reforms. Miller expects the next generation of European consumers to be more socially and environmentally conscious than his generation. Concerns over child labour, unsafe factories and lack of labour rights will be to the detriment of Bangladesh's economic interests. The European single market buys 55% of Bangladesh's exports. It is the largest trading bloc partner of Bangladesh. Germany, Spain, Poland, France, Italy and the Netherlands are among Bangladesh's top export destinations.

Brussels established ties with Bangladesh in 1973. Formal EC assistance to Bangladesh began in 1976 when the first cooperation agreement was signed with a focus on aid and trade. Between 1989 and 1994, Bangladesh became one of the top four recipients of EU food aid. Bangladesh and the EU signed a renewed cooperation agreement for partnership and development in 2001.

To the interim government, Miller said "We want your transition to succeed. We need things to move on quickly, and we are here to work with you. We are here as the European Union offering partnership expertise, investment and consistency". On the importance of shared values, Miller emphasized that "Human rights are for all. They're not European, they're universal".

During the meeting of the EU-Bangladesh Joint Commission in October 2024, the EU encouraged Bangladesh to benefit from the expertise of the UN Human Rights Office and UN Special Procedures as part of the transition to a democratic and pluralistic system. Dhaka's renewed commitment to human rights and democracy can likely result in collaboration and alignment with the EU in multilateral forums.

The EU has been a major development partner to achieve food security, women's empowerment, good governance, human rights reform, adapting to climate change, and improving education and healthcare. EU countries are a key contributor to the Rohingya refugee response as reflected in the Joint Response Plan (JRP) of the international community.

Today, Bangladesh and the European Union must reaffirm their commitment to shared values, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Bangladesh values the assistance it receives from the EU. Dhaka is looking forward to a new era of engagement and strategic cooperation.

Umran Chowdhury is a Research Associate at the Cosmos Foundation and Bay of Bengal Institute.