The Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs and the Ambassador of the European Union inaugurated a workshop on “Starting negotiations for the Full Membership of Timor-Leste to ASEAN”.
Dili, 1 July 2024
The Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs and the Ambassador of the European Union opened a workshop to support the preparation of the negotiating documents within the process of accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN. Within the project “Support to Regional Integration and Trade in Timor-Leste”, implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the European Union is supporting the national technical team in the drafting of the technical documents for the negotiations with ASEAN on Goods and Services.
The full membership of Timor-Leste to ASEAN relies, among other requisites, on the finalization of the bilateral negotiations with all ASEAN Member States on Goods, Services, and Investment, which is conditional to join the main ASEAN Economic Agreements, namely the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA/AFAS) and the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA). ITC experts are providing assistance, based on the requests from the national team, for the preparation of these documents. This workshop will focus on the Offer of Timor-Leste related to Trade in Services (ATISA/AFAS).
At the event, the Vice-Minister Milena Ranges thanked the participants for their commitment to the process and emphasized that “this workshop is essential to draft the best possible technical offer to maximize the benefits of the ASEAN accession”. She also added that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to coordinate the process however the real work lies with each of the key ministries and agencies”. To conclude, she stressed that “together we are stronger and that’s why our Full Membership to ASEAN is essential. As part of ASEAN, we will be better positioned to develop our economy and to better the life of our People. We will be better suited to protect our interests and to contribute to peace and stability”. Vice-Minister expressed again her gratitude to the European Union and the ITC.
Ambassador Marc Fiedrich stated that the European Union is committed to support Timor-Leste’s regional integration efforts, recalling that “geographically, historically, culturally and politically Timor-Leste is part of South-East Asia – it is time to make these ties formal. But the benefits of becoming a member will not come automatically, it will require a good strategy, investment and a lot of hard work.”
For more information contact :
* National Director of Media, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Joanico Sarmento Gomes, sarmentogomes2014 @ gmail.com
* Coordinator of Communication EU delegation in Timor-Leste
Susana Martins,.martins @ eeas.
* Press & Information Officer, EU delegation in Timor-Leste
Akito Ximenes, Akito-Francisco.DE-JESUS-XIMENES @ eeas.
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