10 October 2014 - Deputy Speaker Giorgidi B. Aggabao and party-list Representative Sharon S. Garin of the House of Representatives successfully represented the Philippines to the 8th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP-8) held from October 6 to 7 in Rome, Italy.
Hosted by the Italian Parliament (Senato della Repubblica and Camera dei Diputati), more than 220 meeting participants attended ASEP 8 with the theme "The role of Parliaments in fostering Asia-Europe dialogue, sustainable growth and stronger governance structures." Participants included Members of Parliaments (MPs) from 49 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) partner countries and the European Parliament, as well as officials from the respective Foreign Ministries or Rome-based diplomatic missions of participant countries.
Also present were delegations from the Parliaments of Croatia and Kazakhstan as observers and representatives of the European Commission (EC), the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Interventions from the distinguished Members of the Philippine House of Representatives were well-received. In the panel session on “Economic and Financial Governance Structures”, Deputy Speaker Aggabao highlighted the importance for all ASEM members to carry out structural reforms towards a more open and more effective governance in response to the challenges posed by the current global economic governance. Enhanced connectivity and cooperation were also cited as key, as is the case of South East Asia as it moves closer to the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015.
In another session on “Sustainable Growth and Food Security”, Representative Garin of AAMBIS-OWA, a party-list which represents the Philippines’ small and marginalized farmers focused on the imperative to ensure that interests of small farmers are addressed given their important contributions to sustainable development and food security. The impact of climate change on the livelihood of small farmers was also discussed during the session.
ASEP is a forum for interparliamentary contacts, exchanges and diplomacy among parliaments, and to promote mutual understanding among the people and countries of Asia and Europe. It is part of the overall Asia-Europe partnership process and is convened on a regular bi-annual basis alternately in Asia and in Europe before the ASEM Summit.
Results of ASEP8 in Rome are to be presented to the ASEM Summit also to be hosted by Italy in Milan on October 16 to 17. END