EU-Malaysia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

The European Parliament adopted by 548 votes to 43, with 25 abstentions, a non-legislative motion for a resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Government of Malaysia, of the other part.

EU Strategy for the Indo-Pacific Region and EU Strategic Partnership with ASEAN

Noting that the Indo-Pacific region is of growing strategic importance to Europe, Parliament reiterated its support for the EU's strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. They called for closer cooperation with the countries of the region, particularly the ASEAN countries.

Members called for the swift implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy in coordination with the Indo-Pacific strategy and welcomed the announcement of a EUR 10 billion financial package to accelerate infrastructure investments in ASEAN countries, in particular with regard to the green transition and sustainable connectivity.

Parliament welcomed the reaffirmation by EU and ASEAN leaders of their commitment to mutual respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter. It welcomed Malaysia's vote in favour of UN resolutions supporting Ukraine and encouraged Malaysia to promote respect for international law, assist Ukraine and take a firm stance against Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including within the ASEAN framework.

EU-Malaysia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA)

Members believe that the PCA provides a solid legal framework for strengthening bilateral political and economic relations and for discussing issues of regional and global interest such as the promotion of democracy, human rights and international justice, the strengthening of the international framework for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the fight against terrorism and corruption, among others.

The resolution called on the EU to place issues relating to the fight against climate change and the promotion of gender equality and women's rights at the centre of its relations with Malaysia as part of the implementation of the PCA.

Parliament called on the parties to work to support the implementation and enforcement of national legislation on corporate due diligence and responsibility. It encouraged both parties to step up efforts to tackle the effects of climate change by adopting and implementing more effective climate policies on energy transition and decarbonisation.

Malaysia is facing increasing environmental degradation in many areas, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and air and water pollution. Members urged both parties to pay particular attention to these issues as part of their cooperation to combat these problems.

Parliament called for the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights. It called on the Malaysian authorities to:

- repeal the excessively broad Sedition Act and to bring all legislation, in line with international standards on freedom of expression and assembly, and the protection of human rights;

- repeal the National Security Council Act in 2016, which grants extraordinary powers to the National Security Council and the security forces;

- change the discriminatory nationality and citizenship laws that undermine women’s basic human rights and to take effective action to tackle discrimination against women in the workplace;

- ratify and implement the key international human rights conventions, as well as all core ILO conventions;

- crack down decisively on forced labour, including the abuse of domestic workers, and prohibit employers from keeping employees' passports without their consent;

- put in place a comprehensive system to protect and support all minority and indigenous groups in the country, respecting their fundamental rights, including religious freedom and cultural rights;

- immediately adopt a legal framework protecting the LGBTIQ+ community against discrimination;

- immediately stop forced expulsions and give the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees rapid access to migrant detention centres;

- extend the official moratorium on all executions until the death penalty is fully abolished and all death sentences are commuted;

- meaningfully involve civil society, trade unions and human rights defenders in the implementation of the agreement.

The EU must promote, respect and protect international human rights standards, and in particular the principles of non-refoulement and voluntary return in their cooperation on migration with Malaysia.