The Philippines and the European Union have forged an agreement to establish a subcommittee on maritime cooperation as the two sides expressed concern about unilateral actions endangering peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
The maritime cooperation between Manila and the 27-member regional bloc came after the representatives from both sides recently convened in Brussels, Belgium for the third Joint Committee Meeting, where they reviewed ongoing bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation.
Amid China’s aggression in the South China Sea and its incursions into waters it unilaterally claims it owns, the Philippines and the EU were wary of activities threatening peace, security, and stability, and the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.
During their discussions on maritime security, representatives from PH and EU reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and the importance of respecting the sovereign rights of states within their exclusive economic zones consistent with international law, citing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Arbitration Ruling.
The Philippines and the European Union “agreed to strengthen cooperation on maritime matters by establishing a Philippines-EU Subcommittee on Maritime Cooperation,” their joint statement stated.
Meanwhile, the Philippines and EU also shared concerns about Russian aggression against Ukraine.They pushed for the need to find peaceful solutions to conflicts while respecting principles of international law and the UN Charter.
Reiterating their condemnation of the Russian activities, they called again for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territories and appealed to respect international humanitarian law by ensuring safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance.
“The Philippines and the EU agreed to continue to work together closely and stand up for the rules-based international order, the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-aggression, as well as for a just peace based on respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as protected by the UN Charter,” their joint statement stressed.
