EU Adopts 26th Annual Report on Macao, Citing National Security Focus and Erosion of Freedoms

Key points

• The European Commission and the High Representative adopted the 26th annual report on Macao, covering developments in 2025.
• The report says fundamental freedoms and rights in Macao were further eroded in 2025, despite the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration stipulating the social and economic system should remain unchanged for at least 50 years.
• Former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San was arrested on 30 July under Macao's national security law, the first arrest under that law, which was amended in 2023 to align more closely with Mainland security legislation; he has been in pre-trial detention since.
• Independent media outlet All About Macau announced its closure in October citing increasing pressure and risk after the government deregistered it.
• The eighth Legislative Assembly election was held in September, with 14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected and seven appointed seats; 12 candidates were disqualified for failing to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to Macao SAR.
• In 2025 the EU was Macao's second-largest goods trading partner at €887 million, 25.3% of Macao's total trade, with EU FDI stock of €1.68 billion.