[autom.vertaling] Ondertekening door de EU en de Filippijnen partnerschaps- en samenwerkingsovereenkomst (en)

The EU and the Philippines sign Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario today in Phnom Penh, at the sidelines of the 19thARF Ministerial meeting.

"With the Philippines, Europe has a long historical relationship. We share many common beliefs such as on human rights or on democracy. The level of trust between the Philippines and the EU is such that sensitive political issues are already part of our daily work, be it co-operation on counter-terrorism, non-proliferation or the peace process in Southern Mindanao, where the EU is a willing and engaged partner," said Catherine Ashton.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is the first agreement between the EU and the Philippines since 1980.

The new PCA will allow the two sides to address new challenges in a more coherent and sustainable way. This will include working closer together on issues such as migration and energy. The agreement is not only built on the common values, but also provides for the right tools to cope with these issues by focussing on the dialogue and cooperation.

The EU is also looking forward to using the PCA to consolidate and raise its economic links with the Philippines, for the benefit of the people of both Philippines and Europe.

Background

The EU - Philippines bilateral relations are legally based on the 1980 EC-ASEAN Cooperation Agreement and over the years have significantly developed into a close partnership. The EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will form a wider relationship between the EU and the Philippines encompassing cooperation in a broad range of areas. The PCA was negotiated between both sides and concluded in June 2010.

The PCA brings on board the EU and all its Member States, therefore providing opportunities to increase coherence and synergies between EU policies and between EU and individual Member States’ policies. The PCA will need to be ratified by EU Member States and submitted to the European Parliament before it enters formally into force.

A similar PCA was concluded with Vietnam in 2010 and signed on 27 June 2012 in Brussels. In November 2009, Indonesia was the first country of ASEAN to sign a new-generation PCA with the EU.

For more information:

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton at the signature of the EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton at the opening of the EU-ASEAN post-ministerial conference

Remarks by HR/VP Catherine Ashton available on EBS