The 19th EU-Macao Joint Committee meeting was held in Brussels on 15 July 2014, in accordance with Article 16 of the EC-Macao Trade and Co-operation Agreement of 15 December 1992. This was the 13th annual meeting since China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The previous meeting was held in Macao on 15 November 2013.

The Delegation of the European Union (EU) was headed by Mr. Viorel Isticioaia Budura, Managing Director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service. The Delegation of the Macao SAR was headed by Ms. Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, Secretary for Administration and Justice.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed the latest developments in their relationship, took stock of ongoing bilateral co-operation activities and explored new areas for further co-operation. Both sides agreed that the annual bilateral meeting offered a key forum to conduct fruitful exchanges on topics of common interest.

The European Union updated Macao on its political and economic priorities, noting that the EU economy had achieved stable growth and on the ongoing efforts in strengthening governance of the financial sector. The EU underlined the importance of EU-China relations with significant potential for further expanding trade and investment.

Macao informed the European Union of recent developments in the Special Administrative Region, including the robust growth of its economy in 2013 and in the first quarter of 2014, the Hengqin project, the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and efforts in diversifying the economy.

The parties noted the increasing role of EU business in the provision of goods, services and investment in Macao. Regular dialogue and direct exchanges between EU business operating in Macao and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute will be further strengthened.

The European Union appreciated Macao's openness to engage in further exploratory talks with the EU on automatic exchange of tax information in order to join the OECD global standard declared in May 2014. Both sides also exchanged views on other policy areas including public procurement, competition and labour issues.

On EU-Macao co-operation, both sides welcomed the satisfactory implementation of the EU-Macao Legal Co-operation Project, aimed at strengthening Macao's legal system and to enhance public administration and agreed to explore how the EU might continue to be involved. The European Union and Macao will continue to support the activities under the EU Academic Programme, which has been successfully launched and already undertaken a number of activities in Macao.

Finally, the European Union and Macao expressed their shared intention to explore new areas of co-operation, particularly in education, environmental protection and cultural exchanges.