PURPOSE: to conclude the Framework Agreement on
Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and
Malaysia.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the
act only if Parliament has given its consent to the
act.
BACKGROUND: in November 2004, the Council authorised
the Commission to negotiate individual Framework Agreements on
Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) with Thailand, Indonesia,
Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
Negotiations with Malaysia started in February 2011
following an agreement to launch the negotiations in October 2010
by Commission President Barroso and Prime Minister Najib Razak. The
negotiations were concluded following the 11th round of
negotiations on 12 December 2015. Both sides initialled the PCA in
Putrajaya on 6 April 2016.
It is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on
behalf of the Union.
CONTENT: with this Joint proposal from the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission, it is proposed that
the Council adopt a decision in which it is called upon to
conclude, on behalf of the EU, a Framework Agreement on Partnership
and Cooperation between the European Union and Malaysia.
Aim of the Agreement:
the PCA is the first-ever bilateral agreement between the EU and
Malaysia and supersedes the current legal framework of the 1980
Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and
member countries of the Association of South-East Asian
Nations.
The PCA contains legally binding commitments
which are central to the EUs foreign policy, including
provisions on:
- human rights,
- non-proliferation,
- counter-terrorism,
- the International Criminal Court,
- migration and taxation.
Trade commitments: the
PCA broadens considerably the scope for mutual engagement in the
economic and trade domain as well as justice and home affairs. The
Agreement strengthens the cooperation across a wide spectrum of
policy fields such as:
- trade,
- the environment,
- energy,
- climate change,
- transport,
- science and technology,
- employment and social affairs,
- education,
- agriculture,
- culture, etc.
It also includes provisions to protect the EUs
financial interests. The PCA also has an important trade
cooperation section, which paves the way for the conclusion of the
ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
Human rights: the PCA
with Malaysia marks an important step towards strengthening the
EUs role in South-East Asia, based on shared universal values
such as democracy and human rights. It paves the way for enhancing
political, regional and global cooperation between two like-minded
partners.
The implementation of the PCA will entail practical
benefits for both sides, forming a basis for the promotion of the
EUs broader political and economic interests.
Institutional component:
the Agreement establishes a Joint
Committee that will monitor the development of the bilateral
relationship between the Parties. The Agreement includes a
non-execution clause that provides for the possibility of
suspending the application of the Agreement in case of violation of
essential elements.