The 18th EU-Macao Joint Committee Meeting

The 18th European Union-Macao Joint Committee meeting was held in Macao on 15 November 2013, in accordance with Article 16 of the Agreement for Trade and Cooperation between the European Economic Community and Macao of 15 December 1992. This was the 12th annual meeting since China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The previous meeting was held in Brussels on 4 December 2012. The Delegation of the Macao SAR was headed by Ms. Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, Secretary for Administration and Justice. The Delegation of the European Union (EU) was led by Ambassador Viorel Isticioaia Budura, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service. The 18th Joint Committee meeting coincided with the very special occasion of the 20th anniversary of the EU-Macao Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which has been in force since 1993. Macao and the EU jointly applauded the fruitful implementation of the Agreement over the past 20 years. The Agreement has given shape to an active cooperation agenda in many different sectors ranging from trade to culture. As a result of the Joint Committee mechanism established under the Agreement, a number of useful cooperation programmes and exchanges were successfully undertaken, fostering closer ties between Macao and the EU. Both sides reiterated their appreciation for the annual bilateral meeting as an effective forum to discuss issues of common interest and to explore further cooperation initiatives. They looked forward to the special events to mark the 20th anniversary of the Agreement, in particular a commemorative conference and an exhibition of artistic photographs of European capitals. They also noted the upcoming visit of the European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso to Macao on 23 November 2013. During the meeting, the parties reviewed the latest developments in the bilateral relationship and took stock of ongoing bilateral cooperation activities, including in areas identified during the previous meeting. Macao informed the EU of recent developments in the Special Administrative Region, including the steady growth of its economy over the last year, the new campus of University of Macau as well as the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Industrial Park in Hengqin, new infrastructure developments, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with Mainland China, and efforts towards diversification of the economy. The EU updated Macao of its political and economic priorities, noting that the EU economy had returned to growth and the ongoing efforts in strengthening the governance of the financial sector. The EU pointed out the importance of EU-China relations with significant potential for further expanding trade and investment and strengthening of the relations. On EU-Macao cooperation, both sides welcomed the satisfactory implementation of the EU-Macao Legal Cooperation Project, which was aimed at strengthening Macao's legal system and enhancing public administration, legal and judicial expertise, and agreed to continue the project in due course. The two sides also expressed satisfaction with the start of the EU Academic Programme launched in 2012, and showed keen interest in the progress of the Programme. Macao and the EU welcomed the forthcoming signature in Macao of the EU-Macao Air Services Agreement during the visit of the European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso to Macao on 23 November 2013. Finally, the EU and Macao authorities expressed their shared intention to explore new areas of cooperation and to continue to cooperate in environmental protection, cultural and creative exchanges, all of which have been the subject of initiatives and events involving both sides following the last meeting in Brussels.