Strengthening ties: EU-Phl partnership grows amidst shared challenges and new initiatives

I have been thrilled by the intensity of the diplomatic engagements between the European Union and the Philippines in these last two months. We have had two ministerial level visits from European Commissioners to the Philippines, as well as political dialogue meetings on maritime affairs and on good governance, rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, senior Philippine government officials participated in meetings in Brussels, including in the context of the negotiations of a Free Trade Agreement as well as for discussions on foreign policy and security issues. The launch of several very significant cooperation projects is testament to the vitality and momentum in our bilateral relations.

Sadly, besides the intense diplomatic engagements, we have also witnessed the havoc that typhoons and monsoons, intensified by climate change, wreak much too often in the Philippines. I am deeply saddened by the severe destruction and loss of lives caused by the recent typhoons Enteng (Yagi) and Kristine (Trami). The European Union stands by the Philippines in times of disaster: this goes beyond feelings of sympathy into life-saving action, including the swift release by the European Union of 1.5 million euros (approximately P95 million) to help the populations most affected by typhoon Kristine. This funding will help provide assistance in the hardest-hit-areas, notably to people who have lost their homes and remain displaced.

While the response can be life-saving, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of preparedness and resilience. The 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, successfully hosted by the Philippines in the week of Oct. 14, could not have been more timely and relevant. European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, represented the European Union at the Conference and emphasized the EU’s commitment to global disaster response. Strengthening EU-ASEAN cooperation in disaster management is crucial for mutual learning and protection of communities. The recent floods also in Europe and the consequent loss of lives confirm how the intensification of the cooperation on climate change issues is important at the global level.

The opening of the Copernicus Data Center in the Philippines a few days ago was a milestone. This partnership is supported by the European Union Global Gateway Strategy and is Asia’s first Copernicus Earth observation data hub. It is a cooperation between the EU, the European Space Agency, the Philippine Space Agency and the Department of Science and Technology. The facility currently offers pilot services tailored to the Philippines, such as land cover mapping, ground movement and marine monitoring. Notably, some practical applications for authorities include tracking hazards like landslides, flooding, volcanic activity and earthquakes, supporting both disaster response and preventive action.

We have productively engaged with the Philippine authorities in preparation of upcoming major events around the UN conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification and the Global Plastics Treaty. The Philippines will play an important role in this context by hosting the next Board meeting of the Loss and Damage Fund (to Climate Change) in early December. EU colleagues from Brussels will travel to Manila to support the process.

I am convinced that climate change and the degradation of the environment are a common challenge and we have to work together as a global community. It is therefore crucial to increase and align goals for investments in disaster risk reduction.

This month also marked my first opportunity to visit the BARMM, where the EU is supporting institution strengthening and helping the community in socio-economic growth and job creation. This also covers agricultural livelihoods, waste management, energy provision and resilience to various external shocks, including natural disasters. I witnessed the hospitality, warmth and resilience of the population. I met with local authorities to also discuss about our cooperation. The European Union’s support is making a real difference on the ground. At this moment, the European Union’s partnerships are providing more than P8.4 billion to Mindanao for the peace process and development. During my visit I could see how the EU assistance has enabled communities to generate income from sustainable agriculture in Camp Abubakar; the Wao municipality in Lanao del Sur benefitted from EU funding to invest in their children by prioritizing their early childhood care and development; the EU projects have empowered the youth of Marawi to participate in local political decision making.

As for the coming months, we are gearing up to the next highlights in November and December with high level visitors of the EU traveling to the Philippines. Our colleagues will attend an important sea trade conference and the launch of the EU Seafarer Support package to the Philippines with the Department of Transportation and Maritime Industry Authority. We will also have our annual review of the EU-Philippines cooperation with the Department of Finance, and our annual dialogue to take overall stock of our bilateral relations with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

As the Ambassador of the European Union, I am happy to contribute to our quality partnership that is growing stronger. I am truly convinced that we can achieve more by working together. Let us therefore keep building on this momentum and explore further opportunities.