Brussels: The Third Subcommittee on Maritime Cooperation between the European Union and the Philippines took place recently, highlighting a joint commitment to multilateralism and international law. The two entities emphasized their determination to uphold the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which outlines the legal framework for all oceanic and maritime activities. A key aspect of the discussions was the importance of respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of coastal States, adhering to international law, particularly UNCLOS and its dispute resolution mechanisms. Both parties called for adherence to the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award, a legally binding decision rendered by the arbitral tribunal under UNCLOS. They also stressed the importance of respecting rights and freedoms under UNCLOS, including navigation and overflight freedoms in the South China Sea.
According to European Union, the discussions also saw both the EU and the Philippines strongly oppose illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous activities in the South China Sea. They welcomed open diplomatic engagements to manage differences and expressed serious concerns over unilateral actions that threaten peace, security, and stability, as well as the rules-based order. Both parties urged restraint from the threat or use of force and from actions that could add uncertainty to the region. They reiterated that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully, in accordance with UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanisms.
The dialogue further noted the establishment of the EU-Philippines security and defense dialogue in Manila in June 2025. This platform aims to deepen cooperation in security and defense areas, including maritime security. Both sides agreed to exchange views on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and address challenges posed by shadow fleets.
Moreover, they agreed to explore training, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices across a wide range of maritime areas. There was mutual eagerness to identify specific areas of collaboration that could provide the most value and complement existing partnerships with other like-minded entities.
The Subcommittee was co-chaired by Cosmin Dobran, Director for Peace, Partnership and Crisis Management at the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Emmanuel Donato K. Guzman, Assistant Secretary of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines. The meeting was attended by EU Member States and Philippine government agencies.
