The Secretary for Administration and Justice left today (16 October) for the ninth annual meeting of the Macao-European Joint Committee, which meets annually under the 1993 Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Before her departure for Brussels, Florinda Chan said that she will assess the results of joint projects and will discuss further programs to be implemented with the European Union

The Macao delegation will also present an updated evaluation of the Special Administrative Region's economic situation and of its development.

According to Chan, the 18 October meeting is expected to refine details for implementation of the EU-Macao Legal Co-operation Program (2001-2005), signed October of last year, which will help develop Macao's legal system and promote the rule of law in the SAR.

In addition, an EC-Macao re-admission of persons agreement will be rubricated for further procedures in order to be in force.

On 15 March 2002 the Council of the European Union adopted new visa regulations wherein the EU granted visa-free access to Macao SAR passport-holders as of 10 April 2002.

The Macao delegation, headed by Secretary Chan, is comprised of government officials from the areas of tourism, legislation, administration and justice, economy and finance and includes the representative of the Macao economic and trade delegation to the European Union.