5th from left: EU Ambassador Luc Véron, 7th from left: DFA Usec. Theresa Lazaro together with 9th from left: SM Supermalls Pres. Steven Tan with members of EU: From left: Czech Republic Deputy Head of Mission Dalibor Mička, DFA Assistant Sec Ma. Elena Algabre, French Amb. Marie Fontanel, Irish Amb. William Carlos, German Amb. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Finnish Amb. Juha Pyykkö, Belgian Amb. Michel Parys, Hungarian Amb. Titanilla Toth, Romanian Amb. Răduţa Dana Matache, Dutch Amb. Marielle Geraedts and Spanish Cultural Attaché Alvaro Garcia Moreno. SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
Photos by Jude Bautista
The logo of the 60th anniversary of the bilateral ties symbolizes the enduring commitment to mutual understanding and collaborative problem solving, embodying the spirit of cooperation, solidarity, and harmonious synergy between two diverse regions. It is also a very good representation of how our relationship will continue to progress unabated.
SM Mall of Asia façade; The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
Ambassador Véron said that “2024 is 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.”
Through the year, a number of special events – from a multi-media exhibition to an inter-collegiate quiz (EU Whiz), a choral competition, and many more – will be held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the bilateral ties.
From left: EU Ambassador Luc Véron, DFA Usec. Theresa Lazaro and SM Supermalls Pres. Steven Tan The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
Besides highlighting the many milestones and achievements of EU-Philippines cooperation over the past six decades, the celebration is also a testament to the enduring friendship and ever-stronger ties between the European Union and the Philippines.
From right: German Amb. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Madame Marina Pfaffernoschke and DFA Usec. Theresa Lazaro. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
Background
The European Union (EU) and the Philippines have had a long-standing relationship since the mid-20th century. The Philippines, having established de facto relations with 15 of the early European Union members in 1948, established formal ties with the European Community (the precursor of the European Union) on 12 May 1964. Philippine Ambassador Vicente I. Singian presented his letters of credence to the European Commission as the first Head of the Philippine Mission to the EU in 1964. The EU Delegation to the Philippines was officially opened on 15 May 1991.
From right: : EU Ambassador Luc Véron and Senior Assistant VP of Mall Operations Perkin O. So. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
Over the years, the political and diplomatic relations of the EU and the Philippines have transitioned from being primarily focused on developmental goals to adopting a more collaborative and mutually beneficial approach.
Hungarian Amb Titanilla Toth is welcomed by SM Supermalls Pres. Steven Tan. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
The conclusion of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which created the European Union, strengthened the EU’s political roles in its dealings with ASEAN and the individual ASEAN Member States.
From right: DFA Assistant Sec Ma. Elena Algabre, Spanish Cultural Attaché Alvaro Garcia Moreno and SM VP for Advertising Grace Magno. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
From 1991 to 1994, the Philippines served as the ASEAN country coordinator of the ASEAN-EU Dialogue relations. During this period, the dialogue partnership expanded its scope to include matters such as regional security, human rights, disarmament, non-proliferation, and drug control. The Philippines is once again the country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue relations from August 2021 until 2024.
5th from left: EU Ambassador Luc Véron, 7th from left: DFA Usec. Theresa Lazaro together with 9th from left: SM Supermalls Pres. Steven Tan with members of EU: From left: Czech Republic Deputy Head of Mission Dalibor Mička, DFA Assistant Sec Ma. Elena Algabre, French Amb. Marie Fontanel, Irish Amb. William Carlos, German Amb. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Finnish Amb. Juha Pyykkö, Belgian Amb. Michel Parys, Hungarian Amb. Titanilla Toth, Romanian Amb. Răduţa Dana Matache, Dutch Amb. Marielle Geraedts and Spanish Cultural Attaché Alvaro Garcia Moreno. SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
In 2018, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), a significant component of the EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation, was enacted. This agreement signalled the initiation of collaboration across various areas of mutual interest, encompassing politics, society, economics, counterterrorism, transnational crime prevention, human rights, justice, peace efforts, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, trade, migration, maritime labour, employment, disaster risk management, and health.
From left: French Amb. Marie Fontanel, German Amb. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Finnish Amb. Juha Pyykkö, Dutch Amb. Marielle Geraedts, Irish Amb. William Carlos, Czech Republic Deputy Head of Mission Dalibor Mička and Romanian Amb. Răduţa Dana Matache. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
DFA Usec. Theresa Lazaro is welcomed by Senior Assistant VP of Mall Operations Perkin O. So. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
From left: Phil Biz News writer Marinel Peroy, Phil Biz News founder Monsi Serrano and EU Public Affairs Coordinator Thelma Gecolea. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
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The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. The SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up with the EU PH 60th Anniversary logo, last January 12, 2024. Photo By Jude Bautista
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