PH, EU ink pact to boost bilateral ties

Secretary Albert F. del Rosario. Photo by DFA

MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) and the Philippines signed Wednesday the landmark  Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which aims to advance bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

In a statement, the DFA said the agreement was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Del Rosario and High Representative Catherine Ashton of the EU Foreign Affairs at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“I believe the PCA provides an opportunity and basis for the Philippines and EU to work closely together in addressing real challenges such as the global financial crisis, migration, the pursuit of development goals, expanding trade and investment, improving development cooperation and promoting international peace and security and human rights,” Del Rosario said in the statement.

It noted that the agreement was signed after years of preparation and seven rounds of intense negotiations in Manila and Brussels.

In an earlier e-mail interview with Inquirer.net, Ambassador Guy Ledoux, head of the EU delegation to the Philippines, said that the PCA was the first bilateral deal between the EU and the Philippines, and that it would enable an institutionalized bilateral dialogue and structure to cover more areas of cooperation between the countries.

“The new PCA demonstrates the commitment of the EU to forge a modern, broad-based and mutually beneficial partnership with the Philippines. It will broaden the scope of EU-Philippines relations in areas such as counter-terrorism, the fights against corruption and organized crime, trade and investment, migration and energy, as well as other issues,” Ledoux said.

The statement also noted that the EU was a vital economic and political partner of the Philippines, with the Philippines receiving P2.5 billion in development assistance from the EU in 2011.

“EU’s development assistance to the Philippines focused on health, trade and investment, good governance, human rights and climate action, projects on indigenous peoples, conflict prevention, and promotion of peace,” it said.

The statement also noted that the Philippines’ trade with EU amounted to $10, 396 billion in 2011, and that Philippine exports to EU included crude coconut oil, electronic micro assemblies, electrical and electronic machinery, photosensitive semiconductor devices, storage units, static converters, brakes and servo-brakes and parts, and digital monolithic integrated circuits.

“Still, both the EU and the Philippines believe that these statistics could increase with the signing of a framework meant to open up market opportunities in trade, tourism and investment,” it said.

The agreement was expected to push negotiations for a free-trade agreement that will give the Philippines greater access to European markets.

New Zealand foreign minister to visit Manila

Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will be visiting the Philippines to discuss economic ties and regional issues with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

In a statement Wednesday, the DFA said McCully would be in the country from July 17 to 18. It noted that it would be McCully’s first visit to the country as New Zealand’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

“Del Rosario and McCully will discuss the advancement of economic ties and cooperation in the areas of defense, geothermal energy, dairy industry, labor, development cooperation, environment and disaster preparedness and mitigation,” it said.

“The two foreign ministers will also exchange views on regional issues and concerns that are of mutual interest such as ASEAN, the East Asia Summit and the West Philippine Sea,” it added.

McCully would also pay a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III during the visit.

The Philippines and New Zealand have had bilateral relations for 46 years.