DFA Undersecretary Lazaro meets European External Action Service Secretary General Sannino, Discusses Positive Developments in Philippines-European Union Relations

Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro (left) and Secretary General Stefano Sannino (right) meet for the first time to explore ways to deepen Philippines-EU relations

BRUSSELS, 30 June 2023 — DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro met with Secretary General Stefano Sannino on 29 June 2023 to discuss the developments in Philippines-European Union relations. Undersecretary Lazaro is in Brussels for the Third Philippines-EU Joint Committee Meeting to be held on 30 June 2023.

PH-EU relations are in a positive swing with recent high-level meetings conducted between the two sides, particularly the visit of our President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to Brussels in December 2022 to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, where he met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. 

In the brief meeting in Brussels, Undersecretary Lazaro highlighted to Secretary General Sannino the Philippines’ strong interest in resuming Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks and the renewal of the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for the Philippines.

They also exchanged views on a number of political, security and economic developments in the Indo-Pacific, with a view to fostering peace, dialogue and a rules-based order in the region.  They noted the synergies between the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Undersecretary Lazaro expressed appreciation for the EU’s support for the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Both sides also discussed major developing themes in bilateral relations and the EU’s relations with ASEAN, including the further enhancement of PH-EU partnership in the areas of maritime cooperation, security, and connectivity. END.