19 October 2016 – The Philippines and nine other ASEAN member states engaged the European Union (EU) on issues and concerns of mutual importance at the 21st ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Bangkok on October 14.
With an eye on elevating ASEAN-EU relations to a strategic partnership, ASEAN and the EU’s 28 member states reviewed the progress made in the Bandar Seri Begawan Plan of Action to Strengthen the ASEAN-EU Enhanced Partnership for 2013-2017 and took stock of ongoing programs spanning a broad range of areas of cooperation in capacity building for ASEAN integration and sustainable development.
On the same day, ASEAN and the EU unveiled the Bangkok Declaration on Promoting an ASEAN-EU Global Partnership for shared Strategic Goals where both sides resolved to accelerate efforts towards a strategic partnership in the traditional areas of dialogue and cooperation as well as strengthen regional capabilities in non-traditional security areas.
As head of the Philippine delegation to the ministerial meeting, DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee articulated the Philippine’s priorities for its chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017, including a drug-free ASEAN; met with the EU, The Netherlands, Germany and Spain on a bilateral level; and signed the Book of Condolences opened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand following the demise of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the eve of the 21st AEMM. END