I. Introduction

1. These Rules of Procedures and Criteria for Engagement are prescribed pursuant to Article 16 of the ASEAN Charter, which states that “ASEAN may engage with entities which support the ASEAN Charter, in particular its purposes and principles”. The purposes and principles of ASEAN are elaborated in Articles 1 and 2 of the ASEAN Charter.

II. Entities Associated with ASEAN

2. For the purpose of these Rules of Procedure and Criteria for Engagement, ASEAN may engage with Entities Associated with ASEAN as specified in Annex 2 of the ASEAN Charter, as follows:

a. Parliamentarians and Judiciary are defined as members of parliaments or judiciaries of ASEAN Member States.

b. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are defined as non-profit organisations of ASEAN entities, natural or juridical, that promote, strengthen and help realise the aims and objectives of the ASEAN Community and its three Pillars – the ASEAN Political-Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

c. Think-Tanks are defined as institutes, network of institutes or group of experts organized for interdisciplinary research providing advice on issues.

d. Academic Institutions are defined as institutions or network of institutions dedicated to education and research. Academic institutions usually grant academic degrees or its equivalent.

e. Business Organisations are defined as business associations which are nonprofit organisations engaged in promoting the business interests of their members.

f. Other Stakeholders are defined as natural or juridical persons and other entities that have a direct or indirect stake, interest or concern in ASEAN’s actions, objectives, and policies, and institutions established by ASEAN.

Entities seeking association with ASEAN shall comply with the Guidelines on Accreditation of Entities Associated with ASEAN as prescribed in Annex A (the “Guidelines”).

III. Engagement with ASEAN

3. Entities Associated with ASEAN seeking engagement with ASEAN Organs including ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, shall send a written request to the relevant Chair through the ASEAN Secretariat. The request should state the purpose for the engagement and the matters on which they wish to engage on.

4. Prior to engagement with an entity, ASEAN Organs including ASEAN Sectoral Bodies must have the consensus and each ASEAN Organs including ASEAN Sectoral Bodies may determine its own internal procedure regarding collaboration. For engagement with ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Coordinating Councils, and ASEAN Community Councils, the request may be coursed through the CPR for recommendation and consideration by the respective organs.

5. The ASEAN Organs including ASEAN Sectoral Bodies may convey the significant outcome from the engagement with the entities to the Community Councils if deemed necessary and upon consensus.

IV. Criteria for Engagement

6. Entities Associated with ASEAN shall abide by the following Criteria for Engagement:

a. The ASEAN Charter, in particular its purposes and principles;

b. Mutual respect, mutual tolerance, mutual awareness and mutual understanding of each other’s roles, strength and constraints;

c. Transparency, sincerity, and non-confrontational;

d. Constructive and meaningful dialogue, positive thinking, and goodwill in cooperation;

e. Rules-based, and proceeding at a pace comfortable to all parties concerned; and

f. Working collaboratively towards the common interest of the ASEAN Community and its people.

V. Modality of Engagement

7. ASEAN and the Entities Associated with ASEAN may engage on a mutually agreed modality, including but not limited to dialogue, consultation, interface, seminar, workshop and forum.

VI. Approval and Amendments

8. These Rules of Procedure and the Criteria for Engagement shall be approved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and any decision on the amendments shall be taken through consultation and consensus.

9. Any Member State may propose amendments to the Guidelines, which shall be submitted to the CPR for its consideration and agreed upon by consensus. Such amendments shall come into immediate effect.