European Union (EU) said on November 15 that it looks forward to working closely with the new Indonesian government on a wide range of issues.

During a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, foreign ministers from 15 EU member governments expressed the bloc's readiness to support the efforts of the new government towards economic recovery through an enhanced economic dialogue designed to promote sustained expansion of trade and investment between the EU and Indonesia.

The ministers also expressed their concern at the dire social and environmental consequences of the financial crisis in Indonesia. They suggested that EU-Indonesia cooperation in social and environmental matters be intensified.

EU also welcomed indications that the Indonesian government was considering to bring forward reforms aimed at improving the functioning of the free market and the judicial system, the ministers said in their conclusions after discussions.

The European Union is willing to organize a beneficial exchange of experiences in these fields, they added.