Photo library
2nd European Union-Philippines Meeting on Energy: Energy Efficiency to Boost Economic Growth; 29 May 2013
The EU Delegation in partnership with the Philippines Department of Energy organised the 2nd EU-Philippines Meeting on Energy on May 29 with a focus on Energy Efficiency. The event served as a platform for a bilateral exchange of views on Energy Efficiency between policy makers in the Philippines and representatives from the European Union and its Member States. The Meeting was opened by DOE Undersecretary L. Ayson and EU Ambassador G. Ledoux. Congresswoman Abad also presented the work of the Congress Committee on Energy where the passage of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill is a priority.
European Culinary Season 2013 features Spanish Guitar Concert at Terry's; 23 May 2013
Part of the European Culinary Season 2013, Terry's restaurant in cooperation with the Spanish Embassy, showcased a Guitar concert with the performance of Benchito Cariño. The European Culinary Season 2013 is an event organised by the EU Cultural Group in the Philippines which features various European Cuisines from 16 May until the end of June.
European Culinary Season 2013 launch; 16 May 2013
The exceptional quality and diversity of Metro Manila's restaurants is an important element of its tourism product that's worth celebrating. To this end the European Union Cultural Group made up of the Embassies and Cultural institutes of the European Union and Switzerland will launch on 16 May the first European Culinary Season that will run for six weeks till 30 June.
Over 20 participating restaurants and establishments will celebrate European cuisine and food culture in Manila in the manner they know best – through chef demonstrations, wine and beer tastings, special European degustation menus, culinary film screenings and a pub quiz. Everything from the Sublime to the Delicious.
EU-Philippines cooperation highlighted in Europe Day reception; 07 May 2013
On the occasion of Europe Day, Ambassador Guy Ledoux, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, said relations between the EU and the Philippines has strengthened in the last year as news of the Philippines’ high economic growth and good governance has reached Europe. He noted that in November, at the sidelines of the Ninth Asia-Europe Meeting in Laos, President Benigno Aquino III met with EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, citing as well the flurry of visits of European political leaders in the country over the past six months.
European Union to help the Philippines manage its migration flows by financing a project implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM); 15 March 2013
The EU will provide 86 million PHP or 80% of the financing for a regional project aimed at improving regular migration flows from targeted countries including the Philippines. Placing an emphasis on safe and legal migration, this two-year project follows on others implemented between 2006-2010 on facilitating legal migration and promoting regional dialogue.
EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said:
"The EU's support reaffirms its commitment to cooperate with the Philippines in the area of migration."
The European Union Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence Initiative Regional Secretariat for South East Asia opens; 06 March 2013
To boost the European Union (EU) cooperation with the Philippines on regional security issues, the EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centre of Excellence (CoE) Regional Secretariat for South East Asia will open in Malacanang on 6 March 2013.The CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat will be launched by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr.; the European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux; and Dr Jonathan Lucas, Director of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)."Today's launch is a milestone in itself as the establishment of the CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat in Manila will see the development of a common and coherent risk mitigation policy both at national and regional levels", said the European Union Ambassador Ledoux.
Visit of European Parliament Delegation to explore opportunities for greater European Investment; 11 to 15 February 2013
A Delegation from the European Parliament will be in the Philippines from 11-15 February to learn about the positive developments taking place in the Philippines that have created opportunities for new European investment in the fast-growing Philippine economy. The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who together with European governments legislate for 500 million Europeans, will also visit Mindanao to lend their political support to the peace process.
The European Union will concentrate on the impact of development assistance in the Philippines; 30 January 2013
In advance of the Philippines Development Forum, the EU Delegation and European member States in Manila present a new publication describing European development assistance to the Philippines. The European Union provides development assistance to the Philippines as a group and some member States go further by also providing bilateral development assistance.
Competition: Create simpler rules, enforce good governance; 24 January 2013
A forum on Fair Competition: Key to Economic Growth on Thursday, 24 January 2013 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Makati City will highlight how competition benefits government, investors and consumers alike.
While House Bill 4835, a measure that penalizes anti-competitive agreements and mergers, and abuse of dominant position is yet to be passed, support for the bill is compelling. “Competition policy lies at the heart of a competitive economy. It is well known that no strong and sustainable growth can be attained without a solid competition law,” said H.E. Guy Ledoux, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, one of the co-organizers of the event.
The EU and Human rights advocates push for protection of human rights victims; 04 December 2012
In celebration of the human rights week this December, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines supported by the European Union gathers on 4 December in Mandarin Hotel to raise attention to the human rights violations cases and to call on all sectors to help protect victims of these violations.
European Higher Education Fair 2012 opens in Manila; 14 November 2012
European Union and Philippine officials open European Higher Education Fair dubbed as "Brighter Prospects" on 14 November 2012 at the Peninsula Hotel. The Fair marks the 25 years of the European Union's Erasmus Scholarship and Mobility Programmes and provide a platform for dialogue and exchange of best practices between Philippine and EU Universities and higher education institutions.
Mrs. Norica Nicolai, Member of the European Parliament, visited the Philippines from 28 October to 2 November 2012
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III meets European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission Jose Barroso during the 9th ASEM; 5 to 6 November 2012
President of the European Council Herman VAN ROMPUY and President of the European Commission José Manuel BARROSO met today with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, in the margins of the ASEM 9 Summit. The meeting between the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission with the President of the Philippines is a culmination of the high level political dialogue between the two sides in the year 2012, reconfirming their determination to bring the bilateral relations between the European Union and the Philippines to the new heights.
Philippine President Jejomar Binay attends European Development Days in Brussels; 16 to 17 October 2012
EU Ambassador Ledoux witnesses disaster risk reduction programmes in Southern Leyte; 28 September 2012
Ambassador Guy Ledoux of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines witnessed progress in disaster risk reduction programmes in Leyte and has commended the collaborative efforts of the local government units, NGOs and the communities to help save lives and to lessen damages in times of disasters. The European Union provided Saint Bernard at least Php 20 million (€ 384,000) in DRR funds across five years while the LGU contributed Php 2.6 million (€ 48,000) as their counterpart. The EU contribution is on top of other equally significant inputs of other local and international NGOs to the municipal LGU. The EU disaster preparedness programme aims at improving the capacities of at-risk communities to prepare for and protect themselves from natural disasters. For 2012-2013, the EU has allocated PHP 130 millions for disaster preparedness actions in the Philippines.
Cine Europa 15; 05 September to 21 October 2012
The 15th edition of the Cine Europa Film Festival will open with a splash at Shangri-La Plaza on 5 September including a performance by the Manila String Quartet, a painting exhibition by local artists and the screening of the movie "Upperdog" to mark the inclusion for the first time of a movie from Norway. To mark its fifteenth year Cine Europa will draw on its collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to double the number of Film Festival locations from three to six. In addition to keeping its long-standing tradition of screenings at:Shangri-La Plaza ( 6 to 16 September);Ayala Center in Cebu (21 to 24 September); Liceo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro ( 27 to 30 September);
Cine Europa 15 will then continue in its three new locations: FDCP Cinemateque, Davao (4 to 7 October);FDCP Cinemateque, Baguio (11 to 14 October); and FDCP Cinemateque, Iloilo (18 to 21 October).
EU Ambassador unveils peace murals and reiterates EU's commitment to the peace process; 25 September 2012
In support of Peace month launched by President Benigno Aquino III on 14 September, EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux unveiled peace mural and billboards at Cotobato City Airport on 25 September. The murals and billboards display paintings of the children of Maguindanao who participated in a competition organised by the International Monitoring Team, of which the European Union is a member, with the Department of Education of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
The EU and the Philippines sign Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; 11 July 2012; Phnom Phen, Cambodia
Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice- President of the European Commission, signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario today in Phnom Penh, at the sidelines of the 19thARF Ministerial meeting.
"With the Philippines, Europe has a long historical relationship. We share many common beliefs such as on human rights or on democracy. The level of trust between the Philippines and the EU is such that sensitive political issues are already part of our daily work, be it co-operation on counterterrorism, non-proliferation or the peace process in Southern Mindanao, where the EU is a willing and engaged partner," said Catherine Ashton.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is the first agreement between the EU and the Philippines since 1980.
Competition Policy & Law and the Media; 15 June 2012
The "Competition Policy & Law and the Media" seminar aims in orienting government information agencies and media organisations on competition law and its economic and governance benefits, and the role of media in the advocacy of competition policy and law.
European Union welcomes Philippines' accession to the Madrid Protocol; 30 May 2012
The Philippines has become a member of the Madrid Protocol the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) announces. This will make it easier and more affordable for companies to register their trademarks here in the Philippines and abroad as trademarks registered through the protocol will be automatically registered in member-countries. The Philippines’ major trading partners including Japan, United States, China, Singapore, Korea, Australia and the European Union are all members of the Madrid Protocol.
EU Ambassadors meet the NGO Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP); 28 May 2012
On 28 May, Ambassadors from European Union Member States and Head of the EU Delegation in the Philippines, Mr. Guy Ledoux, met with the Philippine NGO Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) at Bantayog Memorial, Quezon City - a well-known place of commemoration for the victims of Martial Law and torture. The diplomats were welcomed by Sister Crescencia Lucero, Co-Chairperson of the TFDP Board, and by Executive Director Emmanuel Amistad. The visit was a welcome opportunity not only to receive an implementation update of a project funded by the EU with PHP 2.750.000 but to also discuss the situation of human rights in the Philippines, especially with regard to the upcoming 2nd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the country, to take place on 29 May 2012 at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
European Union envoys visit BPO at PEZA: "We are up for more business"; 18 April 2012
Today a group of Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) and its Member States visited Vestas Services Philippines Inc., a European BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) active inthe field of renewable energy, located within the Philippine Export Zone in Makati City. During the tour the Ambassadors were able to witness how EU investments contribute to the thriving BPO sector in the Philippines. PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima welcomed the delegation, representing the EU and ten EU Member States.
Tools and Techniques for Detection and Investigation of Anti-Competitive Practices with Focus on Cartels; 27 to 29 February 2012; Pan Pacific Hotel, Manila
The workshop "Tools and Techniques for Detection and Investigation of Anti-Competitive Practices with Focus on Cartels" was funded through the EU-Philippines Trade Related Technical Assistance Programme 2. TRTA contributes to the reduction of poverty in the Philippines through further integration into the international trade system. It is implemented by the Philippine government with an EU grant of 417 million pesos. In the next phase of the Programme 2012-2016, with a budget of 448 million pesos, a special component to support competition policy is foreseen.
1st EU-Philippines Energy meeting; 27 February 2012
With shared ambition and common policy objectives in mind, the EU Delegation to the Philippines, EU Member States Embassies and the Department of Energy will jointly organise the 1st EU-Philippines Meeting on Energy on February 27, 2012.
The theme for this year's meeting will be "Sharing Experiences on Renewable Energy Promotion".
The event will be jointly opened by EU Ambassador Guy Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jose Almendras and Senator Edgardo Angara, who authored the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.
EU and the Philippine Department of Agriculture launch food safety e-portal; 31 January 2012
The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) with the Delegation of the European Union to Philippines launch the Department's food safety e-portal. AgricultureSecretary Proceso Alcala said the portal “will be useful to the private sector stakeholders as the codified issuances may be accessed electronically, thereby facilitating trade through improved information availability and transparency of food safety related regulations and measures which the industry needs to know and comply with.” Ambassador Guy Ledoux said: "We strongly support the Department of Agriculture in its efforts further enhance its food safety regime. This is good for Philippine consumers and consumers of Philippine food worldwide. Aligning to international standards will improve the access of Philippines food exports to markets abroad. Getting the regulatory framework right and making it easily accessible is key."
EU diplomats visit Cagayan de Oro to express support to Sendong victims and assess progress in relief assistance; 04 January 2012
EU Ambassador leads a group of EU diplomats on a visit to Cagayan De Oro, Northern Mindanao on 4 January to express support for vulnerable families affected by typhoon 'Sendong' (International name: Washi). European Union aid for tropical storm Sendong victims reached Php 389 million making the EU the largest foreign contributor in relief aid for typhoon-stricken Northern Mindanao.
7th PH-EU Senior Officials' Meeting; 12 to 13 December 2011
The Philippine Government and the European Union held their Seventh Philippines-European Union Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) from 12 to 13 December 2011 at the Diamond Hotel, Manila. The SOM is the Seventh since it started in 1997 and the first since the establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS). On this occasion, two Financing Agreements were concluded by the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Buensuceso and by the EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux. The EU Ambassador confirmed that "The new projects address key areas in the expanded bilateral relations namely environmental protection including climate change and maternal and child health which are fully in line with the Philippine Development Plan".
EU support for customs reform confirmed; 17 October 2011
EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux met with recently appointed Bureau of Customs (BOC), Commissioner Rozanno Rufino B. Biazon and confirmed the European Union's support to key reform efforts of the Bureau. In emphasising the BOC's vital role, Mr. Ledoux stated in the margins of the meeting "The Bureau of Customs is the entry point for international trade to the country and it plays a key role in the Philippines' efforts to further strengthen its position as a hub for trade and investment."
