Binay meets with top EU execs in Seoul

MANILA, Philippines—Showing good bilateral relations between the Philippines and Europe, Vice-President Jejomar Binay met with top officials of the European Union on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in South Korea last month.

Binay met with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, in Seoul on March 27 with both sides agreeing to boost further the Philippines and EU ties.

Since the European Union was already a top investor in the country and a major market for exports, both parties saw that there was enough potential in its relationship to further expand its economic exchange.

The EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement seeks to provide the structures for deeper exchanges across on priority issues for both sides from security and trade to human rights and migration.

In maintaining the good relations between the two parties, Rompuy and Barroso have agreed to meet with President Benigno Aquino III in November in Vientiane during the Asia-Europe Meeting 10 (ASEM 10) Summit.

The meeting delved into the country’s commitment to the peace process in Mindanao that earned commendation from the European Union, which confirmed its readiness to continue supporting the process both politically and through development assistance aimed.