EU and Philippines discuss maritime cooperation

The European External Action Service (EEAS) reports^[1] about the third sub-committee on Maritime Cooperation (SCM) under the European Union – Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which took place in Brussels in October. Under the agreement^[2], which entered into force in 2018, the EU and Philippines hold regular dialogues on a number of topics of mutual interest, including maritime transport.

At the last sub-committee on maritime cooperation, both sides expressed their strong commitment to international maritime law under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea as well as the sovereign rights of coastal Member States.

The EU and Philippines also committed to continued cooperation in the field of maritime security, the protection of critical marine infrastructure and the fight against shadow-fleets.

Furthermore, they  welcomed the upcoming entry into force of the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement^[3]). The European Union is currently in the process of translating the agreement into European law.^[4]

The sub-committee also discussed seafarers security, rights and well-being. The next meeting is planned to take place in Manila in 2026.

[1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/philippines-third-subcommittee-maritime-cooperation-european-union-takes-place-brussels_en

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2017/2414/oj/eng

[3] https://docs.un.org/en/a/conf.232/2023/4

[4] See status of the legislative procedure here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-sustaining-our-quality-of-life-food-security-water-and-nature/file-conservation-and-sustainable-use-of-marine-biological-diversity