Joint Proposal for a Council Decision on the accession of the European Union to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation was signed on 24 February 1976 by the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand. The Treaty was amended by a Protocol on 15 December 1987 and a Second Protocol on 25 July 1998. The protocols, among others, opened the Treaty to accession by states outside Southeast Asia.

The Treaty aims to promote peace, stability and co-operation in the region. To this end, it calls for the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of security in Southeast Asia. It establishes mechanisms for conciliation and mediation activated in the case of disputes. It stipulates that parties to the treaty shall refrain for the threat or use of force.

Furthermore, the Treaty provides for enhancing co-operation in economic, trade, social, technical and scientific fields as well as for the acceleration of the economic growth in the region by promoting the greater utilisation of the agriculture and the industries of the nationals in Southeast Asia, the expansion of their trade and the improvement of their economic infrastructure. It calls for the adoption of regional strategies for economic development and mutual assistance, as well as the maintenance of contacts and consultations on international and regional issues.

The Council, in its 2768th meeting of 4-5 December 2006, authorised the Presidency and the Commission to negotiate the European Union’s accession to the Treaty.