http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/fs/asean.pdf

ASEAN Community

Headquarters: Jakarta Secretary-General: Dr Surin Pitsuwan
Surface area: 4,481 thousand sq kms
Population: 574.9 million (2007)
Members: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.


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http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/fs/eu.pdf

European Union

Capital: Brussels President of the European Commission: Mr Jose Manuel Durao Barroso
Surface area: 4,331 thousand sq km
Population: 491.9 million (2007)
Exchange rate: A$1 = 0.6192 Euros* (Feb 2008)
Members: Austria*, Belgium*, Bulgaria, Cyprus*, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland*, France*, Germany*,
Greece*, Hungary, Ireland*, Italy*, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg*, Malta*, Netherlands*, Portugal*,
Romania, Slovak Rep, Slovenia*, Spain*, Sweden, Poland, United Kingdom.

Asean: so much gap.

Politically diverse - we've 'guided' democracy (SG), we've democracy with Constitutional Monarchy (MY, THAI, CAMBODIA), we've people power democracy (INDO, PHIL), we've real Monarchy (BRU), we've totalitarian regime (LAOS), we've Marxist Communist (VIET), we've military regime (MYANMAR).

Economically diverse - SG/MY/THAI/BRU still top economic dragons in the region, with VIET & INDO catching up to join the elite club. As for LAOS / MYANMAR / PHIL / CAMBO, their economies still in the pits. Big frakking differences.

Culturally diverse - MY/BRU/INDO share ethnic, cultural & religious traits. THAI/LAOS also the same. CAMBO just only rediscover Khmer roots. MYANMAR .... really messed up over there. PHIL .... let's just say the only Catholic nation whose facing identity crisis (they can't even to agree to one term to categorise 'em all). As for SG, its basically Chinese dominated country whose intended to be WESTERN country, although socially, more closer to their MY neighbor.