High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro signed a joint statement on 24 July 2026 elevating EU-Philippines relations to an Enhanced Partnership. The upgrade, announced during Kallas' participation in ASEAN ministerial events in Metro Manila, deepens cooperation on foreign affairs, security, governance, climate change, digital transition under the Global Gateway Strategy, and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides also discussed geopolitical challenges and agreed to intensify security and defence cooperation, building on the Security and Defence Dialogue launched in June 2025, with a focus on maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and foreign information manipulation. They reaffirmed support for a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, and Kallas congratulated the Philippines for its ASEAN Chairmanship, noting its commitment to multilateralism and UN resolutions on Ukraine. The Enhanced Partnership builds on the existing EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and marks a formal upgrade in bilateral ties, with no prior coverage of this development in recent months.
Source📰 Read press release ↗