BANGKOK, 14 May 2012– The Cabinet has agreed to issue an addendum to the financing agreement between ASEAN and the European Union (EU) on migration and border management.
The Cabinet meeting today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, gave the green light to the issuance of the Addendum to the Financing Agreement under the Migration and Border Management Program between ASEAN and the EU. The Cabinet also granted clearance to the ASEAN Secretary-General to sign this addendum, as put forward by the Royal Thai Police.
The addendum is set to provide additional terms for the agreement which include defining roles for both parties and specifying the terms of mutual financial assistance. The agreement is aimed at supporting the development of an integrated border management system in order to facilitate the legal movements of goods and persons as well as to combat transnational crimes, such as human-trafficking and illegal immigration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now seek further approval for the addendum to the bilateral agreement from the ASEAN Secretariat. The main addition to the original contract lies in Article 4-Period of Execution, where the Cabinet is proposing an extension to the current length of operation.
