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However, because all services sectors are unique,

the modalities of the MRAs vary significantly depending on
the national concerns over the issue, which it demonstrates
the dominance of the concept of national sovereignty and

non-interference as against the aspiration of pushing forward
the regional cooperation. As the construction of MRAs primarily

bases on consensus and flexibility, ASEAN policy-maker
prescribed different approaches to mutual recognition.
Significantly, MRAs do not necessarily prescribe harmonisation

of technical requirements of ASEAN member states or the
recognition of their equivalence where each member is free

51
to set its own regulations and standards.
In this regard, the MRAs can be categorised into three

groups. These three groups represent the various degree of
openness intensity in several dimensions: automaticity of
the recognition process; the extent of delegation of author-

ity away from the country of destination; scope and depth of
MRA coverage; the level of institutionalization required; the

extent of post-MRA guarantees. In the first group, the MRAs
52
on Nursing Services, Medical Practitioners, and Dental contain

51 Guidelines for the Development of Mutual Recognition Arrangements. (2014).

52 See Open Windows, Closed Doors: Mutual Recognition Arrangements on
Professional Services in the ASEAN Region. (2017). for further discussion.

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