Ranieri Sabatucci, EEAS, Datuk Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Dato Ilango Karuppannan – Picture by EEAS
Initiating of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the Government of Malaysia and the European Union (Meupca)
6 April 2016: The Federation of Malaysia and the European Union (EU) initiated the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (MEUPCA) on 6 April 2016 in Putrajaya. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of The Hon Dato’ Sri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.
The text of the agreement was signed by the chief negotiators, The Hon Dato’ Ilango Karuppannan for Malaysia and HE Ranieri Sabatucci for the EEAS. HE Ambassador Luc Vandebon, Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers were also present.
The MEUPCA provides an overarching strategic political framework for strengthening Malaysia-EU bilateral cooperation. Since the negotiations of MEUPCA commenced in October 2010, 11 rounds of negotiations had been held in Putrajaya and Brussels on a rotational basis. Malaysia and the EU successfully concluded the negotiations during the final round which was held on 7-8 December 2015 in Brussels.
In particular, it will enable both sides to pursue Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA) negotiations. The MEUFTA would give access for Malaysian products and services in the EU’s huge market base. Malaysia will also benefit from capacity building programmes, the sharing of best practices and knowledge transfer in the areas of science and technology, green technology, environment, education and health.
For more information
Mission of Malaysia to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg: http://www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/brussels/
Mission of Malaysia to The Netherlands and the OPCW: www.kln.gov.my/web/nld_the-hague/home
Delegation of the EU to Malaysia: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/malaysia/index_en.htm
