Philippines: Third Subcommittee on Maritime Cooperation with the European Union takes place in Brussels

The third Sub-committee on Maritime Cooperation (SCM) under the European Union - Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was held in Brussels on 7 October. 

The EU and the Philippines reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and international law, and emphasised their resolve to uphold the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be carried out. They underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal States, and their maritime entitlements in accordance with international law, particularly the UNCLOS and its dispute settlement mechanisms. They called for full and faithful compliance by the parties with the final and legally binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award rendered by the arbitral tribunal constituted in accordance with UNCLOS. They further emphasised their unwavering commitment to respect the rights and freedoms under UNCLOS, including freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

The EU and the Philippines also reiterated their strong opposition to illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous activities in the South China Sea, and welcomed frank and sincere diplomatic engagements to manage differences. They expressed serious concerns over unilateral actions that endanger peace, security and stability and the rules-based order. They urged restraint from the threat or use of force and from adding uncertainty to the region. Maritime disputes must be resolved through peaceful means and in accordance with the dispute settlement mechanisms under UNCLOS.

The EU and the Philippines noted the EU-Philippines security and defence dialogue launched by the two sides in June 2025 in Manila, as a dedicated platform to deepen cooperation in security and defence areas, including maritime security. In order to secure their infrastructure, they also agreed to exchange views on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and for addressing challenges posed by the ‘shadow fleets.’

The EU and the Philippines welcomed the upcoming entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), and reiterated the importance of this Agreement, which aims among others to protect the ocean, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change, and curb biodiversity loss in the high seas.They agreed to work together towards its universal ratification and ambitious implementation.

The EU and the Philippines reiterated the call of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the United Nations Security Council, among others, for respect for the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms. They agreed to look into international cooperation on timely and practical initiatives, such as enhanced awareness for seafarers navigating high-risk areas, providing assistance to seafarers in distress, and sharing real-time threat intelligence, which would be crucial in bolstering the safety and security of seafarers. They also called on the global maritime sector to prioritise the safety of seafarers, and to protect and promote the rights of seafarers. 

The EU and the Philippines highlighted specific areas for further engagements and cooperation on a range of maritime issues, including on maritime security, maritime domain awareness, regional security, addressing non-traditional security threats, and coast guard cooperation, as well as maritime education, training, and certification and safety at sea, and marine environmental protection in line with the obligation of States to protect and preserve the marine environment under UNCLOS. They highlighted progress on ongoing projects such as ESIWA, CRIMARIO with its IORIS platform, and the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE) Seafarers Technical Assistance Project, aimed at supporting maritime safety and the continued enhancement of maritime education, training, and certification system for Filipino seafarers, as well as those in the ASEAN region. 

They agreed to further explore training, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices in a broad range of maritime areas. They also expressed their eagerness to identify specific areas where their combined efforts can provide the most value, and at the same time complement existing collaborations with other like-minded partners.

The Sub-committee was co-chaired by Cosmin Dobran, Director for Peace, Partnership and Crisis Management at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and by the head of the Philippine Delegation, Emmanuel Donato K. Guzman, Assistant Secretary of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). It was attended by EU Member States and Philippine government agencies.

The next Sub-committee meeting will take place in Manila in 2026.