The Third Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Palm Oil between the European Union and relevant ASEAN Member States was held virtually on 20 June 2023. The JWG was established at the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels in 2019 to address issues relating to palm oil. The Meeting was organised as a continued commitment to address issues and challenges facing vegetable oils in general, and palm oil in particular, in relevant ASEAN Member States and the EU.

Participants discussed

• trends and challenges in ensuring sustainability of all vegetable oils in ASEAN and the EU;
• they shared relevant information on sustainable vegetable oils production including sustainability criteria and certification for vegetable oils in line with the Sustainable Development Goals;
• they also discussed the possibility of collaboration and technical cooperation, including promoting sustainability efforts and practices, as well as studies and research on the sustainable vegetable oil sector in ASEAN and the EU.

Indonesia and Malaysia expressed deep concerns regarding the measures introduced by the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its impacts on producers of related commodities and the well-being of the people in particular toward smallholders.

The EU underlined that the EUDR aims at curbing deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and third countries driven by European consumption of certain agricultural commodities. Moreover, the EU stressed that the well-being of smallholders remains one of the main priorities. The EU will continue to be engaged and take into account their position.

The Meeting also included discussions on possible collaboration between the countries to engage in a dialogue regarding elements, issues, opportunities and challenges associated with the EUDR.

The Joint Working Group took stock of the insights and recommendations from the experts and stakeholders at the EU-Relevant ASEAN Member States Technical Webinar on Sustainable Vegetable Oils: Promotion of Mutual Understanding on Sustainability Challenges and Issues of Vegetable Oils that was held virtually on 19 June 2023.

They agreed to hold a fourth meeting hosted by Malaysia in 2024 which will be preceded by the Second Technical Webinar of experts to establish a platform for knowledge-sharing and best practices in sustainable development among the EU and relevant ASEAN Member States.

The Meeting was co-chaired by the European External Action Service Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, Paola Pampaloni, and Head of Center for Multilateral Policy Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Rio Budi Rahmanto. The Meeting brought together representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam, the European Commission and the European External Action Service.

View the pdf version here.