Picture: Philippine Permanent Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), H.E. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso (3^rd from left) together with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and ASEAN Secretary General H.E. Le Luong Minh (7^th from left); pose with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, H.E. Federica Mogherini (6^th from left), during the CPR-EU HR/VP Meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, on 09 April 2016.

Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso stressed the importance of the rule of law and arbitration as a peaceful and friendly means of addressing the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue during a meeting on 9 April 2016  between the CPR and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President (HR/VP) of the European Commission, H.E. Federica Mogherini. The meeting was co-chaired by Country Coordinator Thailand’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Busadee Santipitaks.

Ambassador Buensuceso also expressed the Philippines’ appreciation towards the EU for championing the rule of law, especially in the passage of the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on Recent Developments in the South China Sea on 11 March 2016.

The Declaration emphasizes that “the EU is committed to maintaining a legal order for the seas and oceans based upon the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This includes the maintenance of maritime safety, security, and cooperation, freedom of navigation and overflight.” It also “urges all claimants to resolve disputes through peaceful means, to clarify the basis of their claims, and to pursue them in accordance with international law including UNCLOS and its arbitration procedures.” It also expressed EU’s concern “about the deployment of missiles on islands in the South China Sea. The temporary or permanent deployment of military forces or equipment on disputed maritime features which affects regional security and may threaten freedom of navigation and overflight is a major concern. The EU therefore calls on all claimants to refrain from militarisation in the region, from the use or threat of force, and to abstain from unilateral actions.”

During the meeting, the HR Mogherini reiterated the EU’s strong support towards arbitration and noted that the EU Declaration is a consolidated position among all EU institutions.

During the meeting, Ambassador Buensuceso reiterated ASEAN’s condolences on the recent Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks, and assured that countering violent extremism is high in the ASEAN agenda. An attack on Brussels is an attack on us all, she said.

The meeting also discussed positive developments in ASEAN-EU partnership, in particular that the EU is currently ASEAN’s 2^nd largest trading partner and largest investor, with 22% FDI inflows, grounded in active cooperation in expanding ASEAN-EU trade and investment, and support towards regional connectivity. Moving beyond economics and trade, the EU anticipates a strong and modern partnership with ASEAN involving effective cooperation in global and transboundary challenges; security, including cybersecurity, preventive security and mediation, and maritime security; counterterrorism and de-radicalization; climate change; increasing migratory flows and refugees; and natural disasters. Both sides expressed their commitment to towards developing an extensive regional architecture and the realization of ASEAN Vision 2025, through the continued implementation of the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action (POA) on various areas of ASEAN-EU relations, as well as to forge new strategic areas of cooperation in the future.

EU, one of ASEAN’s most longstanding Dialogue Partners, will celebrate its 40^th anniversary of partnership with ASEAN in 2017. The CPR assured VP Mogherini that their request to elevate  ASEAN-EU  Partnership to a strategic level will just be a matter of  “when not if. “

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