Overview
Malaysia, located in South-East Asia, has a diverse population of over 34 million people. It is a multi-religious society with three primary ethnic and linguistic groups: Malay, Chinese, and Indians.
The country's promising economic outlook is underpinned by its well-developed infrastructure, its rich natural resources, and its globally competitive manufacturing and services sectors. Malaysia is also home to some of the world's most significant remaining mega-diverse tropical forests. These vital global ecosystems are inhabited by various indigenous communities. As one of the 10 member countries and current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysia plays a key role in regional cooperation and development.
Our partnership
Malaysia stands as a pivotal strategic partner for the EU, with bilateral relations based on mutual interests and shared values, including human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment, labour standards, democracy, the environment, and multilateralism. Since 2022, our partnership is guided by key international and EU policy frameworks, notably the Paris Agreement, the Global Gateway Strategy, and the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Bilateral cooperation with Malaysia for the period 2021-2027 is supported by a € 25 million Cooperation Facility designed to enhance the EU-Malaysia partnership.
Additionally, Malaysia benefits from various multi-country EU programmes and engages in regional cooperation with the EU as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Key initiatives include two Global Gateway flagships with ASEAN: the Green Team Europe Initiatives and the Team Europe Initiative on Sustainable Connectivity.
EU-Malaysian partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Supporting the external dimension of the Green Deal
Green Deal cooperation between the EU and Malaysia focuses on stopping deforestation and conserving biodiversity. We also work together on the continental level with the SWITCH-Asia programme to promote sustainable and circular economic models. Specific activities include:
- Protecting the Royal Belum Forest against climate change.
- Enhancing the role of civil society in managing Malaysian fisheries.
- Supporting a wild tiger reserve in Pahang.
- Helping Malaysian smallholders in the palm oil and rubber sectors meet European standards and regulations.
- Trade and connectivity
EU and Malaysian cooperation on trade and connectivity focuses on sustainable infrastructure and people to people connectivity under the Global Gateway strategy and by adopting a 360-degree approach both at the country and regional levels. Specific actions include:
- Developing a roadmap for EU-Malaysian connectivity, focusing on the Port of Lumut.
- Cooperating at the continental level on EU-Asia competition and subsidies control, as well as the creation of a network on public finance.
- Carrying out connectivity projects as part of the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package, which includes work on intellectual property rights, satellite data access, and civil aviation.
- Implementing the Global Ports Safety programme in Asia.
- Providing dedicated high quality internet connectivity for Asian researchers and academia.
- Supporting Malaysia’s higher education sector through Erasmus+ projects.
- Defending human rights as the basis for human development
Malaysia and the EU work together on a wide scope of projects covering labour rights, strengthening democracy, and protections for vulnerable populations. Specific actions include:
- Empowering local communities and democratic institutions to promote human rights and the green transition.
- Supporting the capacity of unions and workers to fight forced labour.
- Promoting corporate responsibility and migrant worker’s rights in global supply chains.
- Ensuring worker protection and reducing the vulnerability of women and children in South-East Asia.
- Promoting safe labour migration and decent work for a sustainable fishing supply chain.
