The Max Planck Foundation in cooperation with ASEAN and local authorities of Brunei Darussalam held two workshops for ASEAN and Brunei officials respectively.
On 29-31 October 2024, the ASEAN-Max Planck Foundation Cooperation Project continued with a successful workshop on “Implementing Agreements under UNCLOS” for officials from ASEAN and Timor Leste. In addition, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Germany and Brunei Darussalam, 2 November 2024 witnessed the implementation of a workshop on “The Implementation of UNCLOS in Brunei – Maritime Zones & Environmental Protection” for State officials of Brunei Darussalam. Both workshops were held with the generous support of the German Federal Foreign Office.
The first workshop (29-31 October 2024) was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam and involved participants from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The workshop concentrated on discussing the interpretation, application and evolution of the three implementing agreements under UNCLOS: The 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS; The 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of UNCLOS relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks; and The 2023 Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Opening remarks were provided by Ms Gerda Winkler (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Brunei Darussalam) and Ms Pengiran Hairani Pengiran Haji Tajuddin (Director of the ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam). Ambassadors of ASEAN Member States to Brunei Darussalam also attended the opening session of the workshop.
In addition to numerous sessions on the individual implementing agreements offered by the Foundation’s research fellows, the programme featured presentations by invited experts on fisheries and marine biodiversity, as well as a rich visit to the Naval Training Centre of the Royal Brunei Navy. The workshop included practical exercises to facilitate and deepen discussions among participants.
The second workshop (2 November 2024) was held in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Chambers of Brunei Darussalam. Participants from the relevant Bruneian agencies discussed the implementation of UNCLOS in Brunei, focusing on maritime zones and environmental protection. Several sessions devoted to the practice of Brunei and other Southeast Asian States were offered by the Foundation’s research fellows. In addition, a session on the ways forward in implementing the environmental impact assessment pillar of the BBNJ Agreement was provided as a part of the programme. Practical exercises further opened the floor for more in-depth discussions among representatives of different State authorities.
Opening remarks were provided by Ms Gerda Winkler (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Brunei Darussalam) and Ms Pengiran Hajah Siti Rahmah binti Pengiran Haji Mohammad (Assistant Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Chambers of Brunei Darussalam).
The Foundation looks forward to continuing cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and the academic community across diverse components of the current ASEAN-Max Planck Foundation Project.