In the broader context of hybrid threats, security and defence experts from the Philippines and the European Union (EU) took part in a seminar on Thursday discussing protection of critical infrastructure -- which are essential for global communications and economic security -- and potential responses with a focus on maritime and cyber infrastructure. 

EU Delegation to the Philippines

The seminar builds on the momentum created by the 2 June visit to Manila by EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas who met the then Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo. Both sides announced on this occasion the establishment of a Security and Defense Dialogue.

The seminar, hosted by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs was facilitated by the EU project Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific (ESIWA+), explored solutions to better protect and respond to challenges to[AD1]  critical infrastructure, particularly in the cyber and maritime domains, including sea cables. Participants also contributed insights on how the Philippines and the EU can strengthen cooperation in safeguarding critical infrastructure.

In her welcome remarks, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Deena Joy Amatong stressed that “the responsibility to protect critical infrastructure extends across local, national, and international levels, requiring coordinated efforts to ensure the safety, stability, and resilience of societies — both today and for future generations”.

In his concluding remarks, H.E. Massimo Santoro, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines, underlined that the EU is a reliable security partner in the region, sharing its expertise and comprehensive strategies to strengthen the physical resilience of critical infrastructure.

“EU policies and initiatives on critical infrastructure protection include, among others, the Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities, EU Maritime Security Strategy, the Network and Information Systems Directive, the EU Action Plan on the Security of Submarine Cables and the Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection project,” Amb. Santoro said.

“These robust EU frameworks can serve as reference points for developing joint strategies to bolster the resilience of critical infrastructure, facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiatives, and establishing collaborative mechanisms for incident response and information sharing,” he added.

The Philippine participants, representing various agencies at the forefront of critical infrastructure protection and security, reflected the country’s strong commitment and keen interest in the topic.

Team Europe, on the other hand, was represented by speakers from Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Lithuania and Romania.

About the EU’s ESIWA project:

ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific) works to enhance cooperation in four thematic areas: counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism, crisis management/addressing hybrid threats, cyber security, and maritime security. ESIWA+ is co-funded by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. ESIWA+ is co-implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and by Expertise France.

Previous ESIWA activities in the Philippines:

In November 2024, a regional practitioner workshop on the deradicalisation of inmates associated with terrorism cases was organised by the Philippines and the European Union, in cooperation with the Philippines Bureau of Jail Management and Penology under the supervision of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The two-day operational activity brought together frontline practitioners from the EU and the Indo-Pacific working directly with extremists in detention settings, including specialised prison officers, deradicalisation counsellors and counterterrorism police officers from Germany, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The workshop included a site visit to jails managed by the Philippines Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

For more information, please contact:
Rahul VENKIT
Communications & Visibility Expert, ESIWA+
rahul.venkit@expertisefrance.fr