Context
The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) was formed in 1977, ten years after the foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The concept of an ASEAN Parliament was first suggested on the initiative of the Philippines in 1980, and member parliaments have been pursuing this goal ever since. On 17 April 2007, they agreed to establish the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The aim of AIPA is to actively support the objectives of ASEAN, namely to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015 based on the three pillars of the integration process: 1. ASEAN Political and Security Community, 2. ASEAN Economic Community, 3. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
Objective
The parliamentary policy-making and control functions of ASEAN are strengthened.
Approach
The methodological approach of the project draws on typical instruments of international cooperation: in-process advice, development of technical expertise across organisations, the exchange and transfer of good practices, and cross-border networking of national and regional organisational units in the field of parliamentary development. The key components of support are the advice provided by international and regional short-term experts with in-depth knowledge of German, European and regional practices concerning parliamentary development, and the training measures for partner experts – for instance, through moderated technical and policy dialogue.
The project will assist AIPA in establishing viable forms of cooperation with international institutions and partners (such as the ASEAN parliamentary group of the German Bundestag, the EU Parliament and the Research Services of the German Bundestag). The project is being realised in conjunction with the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) as implementation partner.
The effectiveness of German support for the ASEAN integration process is further enhanced through another project, Capacity Building for the ASEAN Secretariat, which was also commissioned by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (AA). This project aims to strengthen the Secretariat’s institutional capability and enhance staff competence. With regard to budget transparency, the project can leverage further impact through cooperation with the project Capacity Development for the Supreme Audit Institutions in the ASEAN Region (ASEANSAI), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Results achieved so far
During a retreat held over several days in September 2012, representatives of the AIPA and ASEAN Secretariats and select representatives of the AIPA member parliaments engaged for the first time in in-depth discussions on the roles and mandates of their secretariats and organisations. The retreat resulted in a joint declaration (Secretariat-to-Secretariat Note), demonstrating that this event contributed substantially to a better understanding of the respective tasks and responsibilities.
The capabilities of numerous AIPA representatives from all member parliaments and the AIPA Secretariat have been enhanced. Training has been provided on the following topics:
• Functions and mandates of parliaments with respect to budget planning and transparency
• Harmonisation of legislative procedures in the ASEAN region
• Development of an AIPA intranet platform aimed at promoting the transfer of knowledge within the organisation