High Representative Kaja Kallas and Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro signed a joint statement on 24 July 2026 elevating EU-Philippines relations to an Enhanced Partnership, expanding cooperation on foreign affairs, security, climate change, digital transition, and people-to-people exchanges. The upgrade, announced during Kallas' participation in ASEAN ministerial events in Metro Manila, builds on the existing EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and aims to intensify engagement in areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and countering foreign information manipulation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based international order and support for multilateralism, with Kallas congratulating the Philippines on its ASEAN Chairmanship and noting its consistent backing of UN resolutions on Ukraine. The Enhanced Partnership also deepens collaboration under the Global Gateway strategy, focusing on green transition and digital projects. The move follows the launch of EU-Philippines Security and Defence Dialogue meetings in June 2025, which laid groundwork for expanded security cooperation. The upgrade signals a strategic deepening of ties in the Indo-Pacific region, with implications for EU trade and investment flows, Philippine access to European green technology and digital infrastructure, and joint efforts to uphold maritime security in the South China Sea. For EU businesses, the Enhanced Partnership may open new opportunities in renewable energy and digital services, while Philippine authorities gain a stronger framework for capacity-building in cybersecurity and governance. The agreement does not include new financial commitments but sets the stage for future project funding under Global Gateway.
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