MANILA, Philippines – KAPUWA sinang-ayunan ng Pilipinas at European Union na paigtingin ang kanilang bilateral relations sa isang Enhanced Partnership, hudyat ng mas pinalalim na pagtutulungan sa seguridad, kalakalan at regional affairs.
Nagpahayag naman ng kagalakan ang Pilipinas sa European Union para sa pag-apruba nito sa first-ever Assistance Measure for the Philippines sa ilalim ng European Peace Facility, nagkakahalaga ng 15 million euros.
Layon ng tulong ay ang palakasin ang Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) maritime domain awareness sa pamamagitan ng pinahusay na ‘surveillance at monitoring capabilities.’
“This support will strengthen your country’s maritime capabilities through surveillance and monitoring equipment,” ayon kay European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.
“This is the first ever European Peace Facility support to be implemented in the Indo-Pacific and the clear demonstration that Europe is stepping up as a security partner in the region,” ayon pa rin kay Kallas.
Sinabi naman ni Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro na ang pinalawak na kooperasyon ay sumasalamin sa lumalagong partnership sa pagitan ng Pilipinas European Union.
“These areas of cooperation and heightened engagement are just some of the engagements that cement the growing partnership of the Philippines and the European Union and signal that the time is right for the elevation of our relations,” ayon kay Lazaro.
Maliban sa United States, Australia, at Canada, muling inulit ng 27 member states ng European Union ang kabilang suporta para sa karapatan ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea, consistent sa 2016 Arbitral Award.
“Together with 27 EU member states, only a few days ago we stated support for the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. The EU supports efforts by ASEAN and China to conclude a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Disputes must be settled through dialogue and not coercion,” ang sinabi naman ni Kallas.
Pinasalamatan naman ni Lazaro ang lahat ng 27 EU member states sa pagsuporta sa posisyon ng Pilipinas at pagpapahayag ng alalahanin sa kamakailan lamang na insidente sa Ayungin Shoal.
“I wish to express my deep appreciation for the unwavering support of all the twenty-seven EU member states for the statement of the 10th Anniversary of the Arbitral Award and the EU statement of deep concern regarding the incident that took place on 20 July near the Second Thomas Shoal, which resulted in the injury of a Philippine Navy serviceman,” ang winika ng Kalihim.
Sa pagtatapos ng ASEAN meetings, sinabi ni Lazaro na ang talakayan ukol sa COC ay nakatanggap ng mahalagang atensyon at nagpahayag ng kumpiyansa na ang negosasyon ay matatapos ngayong taon.
“What was given attention is the Code of Conduct, that ASEAN now and China is geared towards the conclusion, hopefully the conclusion of the Code of Conduct by the end of this year. I can see some political will from all the countries involved,” ang sinabi ni Lazaro.
Gayunman, may mahahalagang usapin ang nananatiling hindi pa nalulutas kabilang na ang kasunduan sa geographical scope, baseline claims, kung kikilalanin ng Tsina ang 2016 Arbitral Award na nagpapawalang-bisa sa maritime claims ng Tsina sa ilalim ng nine-dash line, at kung ang final COC ay magiging ‘legally binding.’
Samantala, sinabi ng European Union na ang negosasyon para sa Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) ay pumasok na sa final stretch.
“Once finalized, this will create more opportunities for businesses to strengthen supply chains and benefit citizens both in the Philippines and in the European Union,” ayon kay Kallas. KRIS JOSE
