Philippines: first subcommittee on maritime cooperation with the European Union takes place in Brussels
- The first Sub-Committee on Maritime Cooperation under the European Union - Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was convened in Brussels on 27 September.
- The EU and the Philippines renewed their commitment to improve their bilateral maritime cooperation and to further their cooperation in and through multilateral and regional forums and organisations, including through ASEAN.
- They underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of states, and their maritime entitlements in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its dispute settlement mechanisms, while recalling the validity and finality of the Arbitration Award rendered under UNCLOS on 12 July 2016. They further emphasised their unwavering commitment to freedom of navigation and right of innocent passage and overflight in the South China Sea, consistent with UNCLOS.
- The EU and the Philippines agreed to continue to work together closely and stand up for the rules-based international order and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-aggression, as protected by the UN Charter.
- The EU welcomed the Philippines agencies’ uptake of the EU-funded maritime communication and coordination platform (IORIS). They both committed to more training and exercises under the Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO) project to strengthen the Philippines’ crisis management capacities.
- They expressed serious concern over unilateral actions that endanger peace, security and stability and the rules-based international order, including recent incidents in the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone. Such activities also include those which damage the seabed and marine environment, interfere with the livelihoods of fishing communities and undermine the Philippines’ food security. They emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions. They urged parties to refrain from the threat or use of force and from adding uncertainty to the region through unilateral acts. Disputes must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, including its dispute settlement mechanism.
- They also discussed other areas of sectoral cooperation in the maritime area, such as sustainable development, ocean governance and connectivity. They noted progress towards the launch of the EU-funded technical assistance project for cooperation with the Philippines on the training, certification, and working and living conditions of seafarers. They welcomed the recent adoption of the revised IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy and expressed their commitment to develop measures in the medium term that ensure a fair and equitable transition towards net-zero GHG emissions.
- They agreed to build on and reinforce synergies between the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, in order to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The next Subcommittee meeting will take place in Manila in 2024.
- The EU Delegation was headed by Ms. Paola Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the EEAS and the Philippine Delegation was headed by Hon. Maria Angela A. Ponce, Assistant Secretary of the Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs. They were also joined by the European Commission, EU Member States, and representatives from Philippine government agencies.
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