25 July 2014 – Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, (HRVP) Baroness Catherine Ashton will undertake a two-day official visit to the Philippines (PH) on 28 and 29 July 2014. The first visit to Manila by the EU high-ranking official coincides with the 50th Anniversary of PH-EU diplomatic ties and reaffirms the importance that they attach to their relations. HRVP Ashton will be welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario on her first official trip to the country.
HRVP Ashton and Secretary del Rosario will meet in Manila to discuss wide-ranging issues which will include the further expansion of the PH-EU economic cooperation, the Mindanao peace process and regional security. During the visit, the Philippine side will take the opportunity to express its appreciation for the outpouring of support that EU countries have extended to the Philippines in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, as well as the substantial assistance the EU has provided to the Mindanao Peace Process.
Both PH and EU expect more improvement in their bilateral trade and investments. The Philippines anticipates the approval and acceptance of its application as a GSP+ beneficiary country of the EU in the next few months. Approval of the application will result in further expansion of PH exports to EU and a substantial generation of employment in the country.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and EU were established in 1964. There are more than 700,000 Filipinos in EU Member States, most of whom are in Italy and in the United Kingdom. The total trade between the Philippines and EU reached US$12.429 billion in 2013. END