“The Agreement will reinforce our political dialogue with Malaysia on a range of issues, among them counter-terrorism and the promotion of human rights and of international justice, said Federica Mogherini, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
The PCA will provide the overarching legal framework for strengthening EU-Malaysia bilateral cooperation. The new Agreement is far-reaching and encompasses a full range of areas of common interest for the EU and Malaysia. It is testimony to the growing importance that the EU attaches to its partnership with ASEAN as a whole, and with Malaysia as one of ASEAN’s founding countries and as a historically close partner.
The Agreement will enhance political dialogue and will intensify the EU-Malaysia relationship on regional and global issues such as counter-terrorism, the fight against corruption, the promotion of human rights and of international justice, and the strengthening of the international framework for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
It will give more scope for sectoral cooperation in a broad number of areas of mutual interest such as migration issues, money laundering and terrorism financing, information society, cybersecurity, science and innovation, green technologies, energy, transport, education, environment, health, labour and employment, and public administration. Over time, the PCA may be complemented by a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Background
Malaysia is the sixth ASEAN partner to finalise negotiations for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union. Negotiations for similar agreements were concluded with Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The PCA with Indonesia has already entered into force.
For the time being EU – Malaysia bilateral relations are based upon a European CommissionASEAN Cooperation Agreement signed in 1980. The new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will replace this current agreement and strongly reinforce relations. In particular, it will develop the following areas:
– Political dialogue through the regular meetings of a Joint Committee composed of representatives of the Parties at an appropriate high level, tackling matters such as peace and security, human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the coordination of all sectoral cooperation.
– Intensification of already-existing regional and international cooperation.
– Cooperation on trade and investments issues, including technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, intellectual property rights, and customs.
– Cooperation in the specific areas of justice and security, including migration, rule of law and legal cooperation, human rights and international justice, cybersecurity, data protection, combating organised crime, money laundering and terrorism financing, and the fight against illicit drugs.
– Sectoral cooperation in essential areas such as: information society, science, technology and innovation, green technologies, energy, transport, education, environment, health, labour and employment, public administration.
The signature of the PCA will take place at a jointly agreed date, after the completion of the respective necessary internal procedures. The agreement will enter into force once it has been ratified by the parties.
