The European Union has adopted its first-ever assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) for the Philippines, worth €15 million, to strengthen the maritime domain awareness capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The measure, proposed by High Representative Kaja Kallas and adopted by the Council, marks a major milestone in EU-Philippines security and defence cooperation and is the first EPF measure implemented in the Indo-Pacific region.
The announcement was made on 24 July 2026 following a meeting in Manila between High Representative Kallas and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. The two officials reaffirmed the strength of the EU-Philippines partnership and exchanged views on current geopolitical challenges and ways to further deepen security and defence cooperation. They welcomed the positive outcomes of the Security and Defence Dialogue launched in June 2025, which has advanced collaboration on maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and foreign information manipulation and interference. They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to a resilient, rules-based international order that upholds peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The assistance measure will improve the Philippine Navy’s ability to detect, monitor and analyse activities within the country’s maritime zones, develop a more comprehensive maritime picture, enhance early warning, and support more effective coordination and response by naval and maritime security forces. The EU framed the measure as an investment in the partnership, mutual trust, regional stability, and a shared commitment to peace and security.
The EPF is an off-budget instrument used by the EU to finance military and defence-related assistance to partner countries. The decision to extend it to the Philippines signals a deepening of the EU's security engagement in the Indo-Pacific, a region where China's assertiveness has raised concerns among littoral states. The measure directly impacts the Philippine Navy and maritime security forces, which will receive enhanced surveillance and coordination capabilities. It also benefits EU defence industries indirectly, as EPF-funded equipment is typically sourced from EU member states. The move may be viewed warily by China, which has opposed external security cooperation in the region. For EU taxpayers, the €15 million represents a modest but symbolically significant commitment to a non-European partner.
No further EPF measures for the Philippines have been announced, but the Security and Defence Dialogue is expected to continue, potentially paving the way for additional cooperation in cybersecurity and hybrid threats.