EU and Philippines Kick Off Year-Long Celebration of 60 Years of Diplomatic Ties

MANILA — The European Union (EU) and the Philippines have launched a year-long celebration to commemorate six decades of diplomatic relations, marking a significant milestone in their enduring partnership.

According to Philippines News Agency, The EU Delegation in Manila announced that the iconic globe at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City would be illuminated with the logo representing the 60th year of diplomatic ties from January 12 to 19. During the lighting ceremony on Friday, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron emphasized that 2024 symbolizes a “celebration of the values that the EU and the Philippines share — democracy, human rights, equality, the rule of law, and support for multilateralism and international law.”

Throughout the year, the EU Delegation in Manila will organize various special events, including a multimedia exhibition, an inter-collegiate quiz (EU Whiz), and a choral competition. According to the EU Delegation, these events aim to highlight the milestones and achievements of EU-Philippines cooperation over the past 60 years and showcase the enduring friendship and increasingly strong ties between the European Union and the Philippines.

The Philippines established de facto relations with 15 of the early EU members in 1948 and formalized ties with the European Community (now the European Union) on May 12, 1964. Ambassador Vicente Singian presented his letters of credence to the European Commission in 1964 as the first head of the Philippine Mission to the EU. The EU Delegation to the Philippines officially opened on May 15, 1991.

Over the years, the political and diplomatic relations between the EU and the Philippines have evolved from a focus on developmental goals to a more collaborative and mutually beneficial approach. A key milestone in this partnership was the enactment of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2018, a significant component of the EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation.

This agreement marked the beginning of cooperation across various fields of mutual interest, including politics, society, economics, counterterrorism, transnational crime prevention, human rights, justice, peace efforts, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, trade, migration, maritime labor, employment, disaster risk management, and health, as stated by the EU Delegation in Manila.