The Philippines and the EU Enhance Security Cooperation
Joint Press Release on the Meeting between Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Enrique A. Manalo and High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas
MANILA 02 June 2025 - Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Enrique A. Manalo met today with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HRVP) Kaja Kallas, for a high-level dialogue reaffirming the strong and growing partnership between the Philippines and the European Union. The visit marks a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the Philippines and the EU, rooted in shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, anchored in the Philippines-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
Recognizing the growing complexity of security threats, both sides agree to enhance their cooperation and announce the establishment of a Security and Defense Dialogue.
“The dialogue addresses the current geopolitical challenges and will foster exchanges and cooperation in security and defense areas, including maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI),” said HRVP Kallas. Secretary Manalo underscored that the strengthening of Philippines-EU security cooperation is a step in the right direction. Through sustained dialogue and practical cooperation, the Philippines seeks to promote a resilient, rules-based international order that upholds peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”
The inaugural meeting of a Dialogue is tentatively set to take place in the last quarter of 2025.
In the field of maritime security and regional stability, both sides recognize the benefit of continued cooperation under initiatives such as Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO II), Copernicus, and Enhancing security cooperation in and with Asia (ESIWA Plus), and express their willingness to further explore joint activities and new opportunities for cooperation in line with shared strategic interests, including opportunities on connectivity and environmental monitoring, such as exchange of knowledge and best practices on submarine cables and uncrewed vessels.
In this context, they also reaffirm their commitment to respect freedom of navigation and overflight as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They express their concerns about China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive measures against Philippine vessels and aircraft conducting lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea. They reiterate their commitment to upholding international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award, which is final and binding.
Secretary Manalo and HRVP Kallas also highlight the importance of deepening of trade and investment ties, and welcome the ongoing negotiations for a Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement, expressing hope for its early conclusion. Both sides reiterate that human rights, the rule of law, and good governance are pillars to the partnership. They discussed the EU Election Observation Mission during the recent mid-term elections, its preliminary statement and await its final report.
Both sides agreed to intensify cooperation on climate change and green transition under the Global Gateway Strategy, including through data-sharing under the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme and through the Team Europe Initiative on Green Economy, which supports the Philippines’ transition to a circular economy.
Both sides agree that people-to-people exchanges remain at the heart of Philippines-EU cultural ties, with initiatives such as Erasmus scholarships, enhancing educational and vocational opportunities and promoting deeper intercultural bridges, strengthening the Philippines-EU research and innovation partnership and promoting a more inclusive, peaceful, and interconnected future for both regions.
Finally, the Philippines and the EU reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in response to evolving regional and global challenges. In this context, the HRVP welcomes the Philippines’ active and constructive role in ASEAN and its strong commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter, and the rule of law, including its consistent support for all relevant UN General Assembly resolutions, notably on Ukraine.
On Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Philippines and the EU reiterate their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and call for ceasefire and cessation of any attacks against civilians and civilian objects to pave the way towards a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the conflict. They renew their call for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on international law, including the United Nations Charter and underline the importance of preventing further escalation of the war as well as the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction by any country.
Both sides express support for initiatives that contribute to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine in accordance with the two-state solution, the Charter of the United Nations, and relevant resolutions. END