23 January 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union (EU) Victoria S. Bataclan, along with the head of Southeast Asia Division of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Ranieri Sabatucci, initialed on January 16 the Protocol on the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) between the Philippines and the EU at the EEAS Office in informal ceremony attended by officials of the Philippine Mission to the EU and the EEAS.

This development takes into account the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union on  01 July 2013.

The Phippines-EU PCA, signed on 11 July 2012, provides a comprehensive framework aimed to steer future Philippines-EU bilateral relations on a wide range of areas, including politico-security, economic, trade, socio-cultural, education, technology and development cooperation.  Croatia, EU’s most recent member, joins the 27 EU Member States as part of the Philippines-EU PCA.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux, who was visiting Brussels, joined the officials from the EEAS and the Philippine Mission in witnessing the event. He conferred afterwards with Ambassador Bataclan and Mr. Sabatucci on various issues of common concern to enhance the bilateral relations. END