17 July 2016 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. met with the European Union High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission (HR/VP) Federica Mogherini at the sidelines of the 11th ASEM Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on July 16.
HR/VP Mogherini, who is Secretary Yasay’s counterpart, acts as EU foreign minister. The meeting between the two ministers was the occasion to exchange views on issues of common interest and concern between the Philippines and the EU, such as regional peace and security, Mindanao peace and development, and bilateral agreements.
Following the award of the arbitral tribunal on the merits of the Philippine case on the South China Sea, HR/VP Mogherini referred to the official statement conveying the EU position issued on 15 July 2016. Both Ministers agreed on the need for peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law, and the upholding of freedom of navigation and overflight. HR/VP Mogherini also remarked that the Philippines’ immediate call for calm was the right and wise approach.
On Mindanao, Secretary Yasay expressed appreciation for the EU’s continued valuable support for peace and development. They also remarked that bilateral relations between the Philippines and the EU are strengthening as evidenced by the expected entry into force soon of the PH-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the ongoing negotiations on the PH-EU Free Trade Agreement.
The meeting ended with both ministers expressing their desire to continue to conduct high-level bilateral meetings either in Manila, Brussels, or at the sidelines of other international meetings such as in ASEAN. END