Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, in a written answer on 28 July 2026, defended the European Commission's decision not to suspend free trade agreement negotiations with the Philippines following the Toboso massacre, while pledging to maintain human rights dialogue through existing mechanisms. The answer, responding to a question from Marc Botenga (The Left), rejects calls to halt trade talks or suspend the Philippines from the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), instead pointing to ongoing engagement under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and GSP+ monitoring.
Šefčovič confirmed that negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) continue, with the PCA serving as the political framework and the Commission pursuing strong sustainability provisions. He cited a Sustainability Impact Assessment that concluded an FTA could have overall positive impacts on human rights. The answer contains no concrete proposals to suspend trade preferences or call for an independent international investigation into the Toboso massacre, instead reiterating existing commitments to dialogue and monitoring.
The policy orientation is one of continued engagement rather than punitive measures, prioritising economic partnership and diplomatic channels over suspension or sanctions. Institutional follow-up includes a planned Subcommittee Meeting on Good Governance, Rule of Law, and Human Rights in the last quarter of 2026 and a forthcoming GSP+ monitoring report in July 2026. The Commission also provides targeted support to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights.
EU-Philippines trade negotiators and Philippine exporters benefit from continued talks and GSP+ preferences, while human rights advocates and victims' families see no immediate accountability mechanism for the Toboso massacre. The Commission's approach maintains leverage through dialogue but risks criticism for insufficient action on documented violations.