DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNALPOLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA): A privileged interlocutor for the European Parliament in South East Asia Author: Laurence VANDEWALLE ABSTRACT The mains aims of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) are the promotion of closer cooperation among parliaments of the association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN) member countries and the facilitation of the attainment of the objectives of ASEAN. AIPA is not the Parliament of ASEAN: it has no legislative powers, its resolutions are non-binding, and it does not vote on the budget of ASEAN. However, AIPA is significant in relation to the development of the political context in Southeast Asia, as the ASEAN Economic Community is about to enter into force: it provides a parliamentary forum where members from national parliaments can interact and exchange information on issues of common interest. The European Parliament's participation in the General Assembly of AIPA provides a unique opportunity for regional dialogue In South East Asia, both with the member countries and with the observer countries of ASEAN. DG EXPO/B/PolDep/Note/2015_237 EN August 2015-PE 549.064 © European Union, 2015 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies This paper was requested by the European Parliament's Delegation to Southeast Asia, ASEAN. This paper is based on Marika ARMANOVICA'S briefing, The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), DG EXPO/B/PolDep/Note/2013_191, June 2013. English-language manuscript was completed on 20 August 2015. Translated into FR/DE. Printed in Belgium. Authors: Laurence VANDEWALLE with contribution from Mehrunnisa NOON (intern) Editorial Assistants: Elina STERGATOU, Liina-Triin TAMBI Feedback of all kind is welcome. Please write to the author: [email protected]. To obtain copies, please send a request to: [email protected]. 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The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA): A privileged interlocutor for the European Parliament in South East Asia Table of contents 1 AIPA's origin and objectives 4 2 Functioning of AIPA 5 3 Parliamentarianism in South-East Asia 7 4 AIPA and South-East Asia 9 5 AIPA and the EP 10 6 AIPA's recent General Assemblies 11 7 Outlook 12 3 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 1 AIPA's origin and objectives The ASEAN Inter- The first ASEAN Parliamentary Meeting (APM) was held in Jakarta in January Parliamentary Organisation 1975, and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) was created (AIPO) was created in 1977; in 1977. In 2003, with progress being made towards the ASEAN Economic in 2006 its name was Community (AEC), the idea of an ASEAN Parliament, which had first been changed to the ASEAN proposed by the Philippines in 1980, resurfaced. At the 27th AIPO General Inter-Parliamentary Assembly held in the Philippines in 2006, there was a consensus that the Assembly (AIPA), and the statutes were amended to ASEAN Parliament would be a long term goal. It was also agreed upon to include the promotion of first proceed with the transformation of the organisation into a more human rights, democracy, closely integrated institution. The name of the organisation was changed peace, security and from AIPO to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the prosperity. statutes were amended to include an additional aim: to promote the principles of human rights, democracy, peace, security and prosperity. There is no provision for a formal regional parliament in the ASEAN Charter; however the charter does recognise the importance of AIPA as a major force in establishing the ASEAN Community by 20151. According to its statutes, AIPA's main aims are the promotion of closer cooperation among parliaments of the ASEAN member countries, of cooperation between AIPA and other parliaments or regional and international parliamentary organisations, and the facilitation of the attainment of the objectives of ASEAN. The membership of AIPA was progressively enlarged as ASEAN's The membership of AIPA membership expanded, although the role played by national parliaments was progressively enlarged differs greatly from country to country as outlined below. The members are: as ASEAN's membership the-Brunei Darussalam Legislative Council, the National Assembly of the expanded, although the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat of the Republic of role played by national Indonesia, the National Assembly of Lao People's Democratic Republic, the parliaments differs greatly Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat of Malaysia, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw of from country to country. the Union of Myanmar/Burma, the Congress of the Philippines, the AIPA has 13 observers: the Parliament of Singapore, the National Assembly of the Kingdom of European Parliament, Thailand, and the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Australia, Belarus, Canada, Membership is open to all national parliaments of ASEAN member states, China, India, Japan, Korea, and all ten members of ASEAN are full members of AIPA since 2011. New Zealand, Papua New However, like in the case of ASEAN, there are no provisions for a country to Guinea, Russia, and Timor- renounce membership if it should so wish. Leste. Observer parliaments are national assemblies of countries that could join the association in the future or important partners and neighbours of ASEAN. Currently, the 13 observers are the European Parliament, Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, and Timor-Leste. 1 Dienla, Imelda. 'Giving the ASEAN Inter- Parliamentary Assembly a Voice in the ASEAN Community.' (2013): International Institute for Democratic and Electoral Assistance. 4 The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA): A privileged interlocutor for the European Parliament in South East Asia 2 Functioning of AIPA The structure of AIPA is The structure of AIPA is made up of the General Assembly (GA), the made up of the General Presidency, the Executive Committee, the Committees, the Secretariat, the Assembly (GA), the Secretary-General, and the National Secretariats. The working language of Presidency, the Executive AIPA is English. Committee, the Committees, the The GA, which meets at least once a year, is AIPA's highest policy-making Secretariat, the Secretary- body. It consists of delegations of not more than fifteen members from General, and the National each member parliament, headed by their Speaker. Besides the fact that at Secretariats. least three members of each delegation must be female, there are no guidelines on the selection criteria for representatives selected by the national parliaments, which explains the fact that participation is often restricted to members from ruling parties. The venue of the GA usually The GA, which meets at rotates amongst the member parliaments in alphabetical order. The GA least once a year, is AIPA's adopts policy initiatives, provides inputs to policy formulation, and may highest policy-making propose legislative initiatives on issues of common concern for body. recommendation to the governments of ASEAN members. The resolutions approved by the GA are disseminated to the members respective parliaments and governments to 'stimulate their implementation'2. Reciprocally, National Secretariats are expected to inform the AIPA Secretariat of any action taken by their parliaments and governments on initiatives adopted by the GA. Decisions by the GA are made by consensus: matters on which consensus cannot be attained are dropped. The Presiding Officer of the national parliament of the country in which the GA is to be held is the President of the AIPA and of the GA. The President's The Presiding Officer of the term of office starts immediately after the conclusion of the GA, and national parliament of the continues until the conclusion of the following GA. When invited, the country, in which the GA is President attends the ASEAN Summit. The President is also the Chairman of to be held, is the President of the AIPA and of the GA. AIPA's Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is made up of a maximum of three members from each member parliament, led by the Speaker of parliament. Members of the Executive Committee must be members of their respective national parliaments. The Executive Committee meets at least three months before the GA, to prepare the program. The term of office is the same as the GA's. The Executive Committee is Its role is to recommend membership in AIPA and the participation of made up of a maximum of Special Observers, Observers and Guests in order to develop initiatives for three members from each AIPA activities, to monitor the implementation of resolutions approved by member parliament, the GA, to prepare the agenda and program as proposed by member parliaments for the approval of the GA, to propose the setting up of standing, study, ad hoc committees or sub-committees of a standing committee whenever necessary and to monitor the work of the Secretariat. The Secretariat is the administrative body of AIPA. It must be located in the 2 'The Statutes of AIPA.' ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Web. 23 July 2015. <http://www.aipasecretariat.org/about-us/statutes/> 5 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies city where the Secretariat of ASEAN is located. Established in 1990, it is located in Jakarta, within the premises of the Indonesian House of Representatives. The later provides the facilities and covers the cost of maintenance. It relies heavily on the secretariats of the national parliaments The Secretariat is the of the member's states, and remains rather small: it is made up of seventeen administrative body of persons.