Review of ASEAN Charter

Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) if he can provide an update on (i) the ongoing review of the ASEAN Charter; (ii) the extent to which the Charter has helped make ASEAN a more effective and rules-based organisation; and (b) whether the Charter has enabled ASEAN to recalibrate its norms, values and purpose to remain nimble, relevant and effective in various spheres of multilateral endeavours.

Assoc Prof Eugene Tan asked for an update on (a) the ongoing review of the ASEAN Charter; and (b) the extent to which the Charter has helped make ASEAN a more effective and rules-based organisation. Assoc Prof Tan also asked whether the Charter has enabled ASEAN to recalibrate its norms, values and purpose to remain nimble, relevant and effective in various spheres of multilateral endeavours. I would first like to clarify for Assoc Prof Tan that there is currently no ongoing review of the ASEAN Charter. The ASEAN Charter came into force on 15 December 2008. It conferred legal personality onto ASEAN as an intergovernmental institution. It codified ASEAN’s norms, values and purpose; set clear targets for ASEAN; and provided a framework for accountability and compliance for ASEAN member states. These include decision-making on the basis of consultation and consensus; maintaining ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture; reliance on the peaceful settlement of disputes; and shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity.

The impetus behind the ASEAN Charter was to serve as a framework to guide ASEAN's regional integration process, strengthen the existing ASEAN institutions and improve ASEAN's decision-making mechanisms. The ASEAN Charter outlines an approach for ASEAN to work towards the realisation of an ASEAN Community by 2015. It aims to improve ASEAN's decision-making mechanisms by establishing a system of reporting lines and procedures. The

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Charter also lays out principles on ASEAN's engagements with external parties.

The ASEAN Charter has been in force for five years. As ASEAN develops its Post-2015 Vision, it is vital that the ASEAN Charter continues to be relevant. For instance, while rules and processes are helpful in ASEAN's integration, we must ensure that they do not proliferate, become obsolete and hamper ASEAN's effectiveness. The High Level Task Force (HLTF) on Strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat and Reviewing the ASEAN Organs is an example of an initiative that ASEAN member states have embarked on aimed at making ASEAN more well-equipped and nimble to respond to the challenges of our evolving regional architecture. Its work would include looking into ways to improve ASEAN's institutions and processes, as well as reviewing ASEAN's conduct of external relations. The HLTF will submit its recommendations to the 15th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council in November 2014.