On 13 July 2026, the European Union, in a statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on behalf of the 27 member states, reaffirmed its support for the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, marking its tenth anniversary. The statement declared the award, issued by a tribunal under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as final and legally binding upon the parties to the proceedings, and called for its full implementation by the parties involved. The EU also expressed deep concern over rising tensions and dangerous incidents in the region, opposing unilateral actions that undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order.
The statement, published by the EEAS on 13 July 2026, commemorates the 12 July 2016 award in the arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China. The EU reiterated its unwavering commitment to UNCLOS as the universal legal framework for ocean activities, stressing the critical importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, including transit passage rights, for regional stability and global security. The bloc also voiced support for ongoing efforts by ASEAN and China to conclude a substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, consistent with UNCLOS, and urged that all disputes be resolved through peaceful dialogue in accordance with international law.
This is the first time the EU has issued a dedicated statement on the anniversary of the award, reflecting sustained concern over maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. The statement carries no new measures but reinforces the EU's longstanding position, aligning with previous declarations by the European Parliament and the Council. The EU's stance impacts several stakeholders: for the Philippines and other claimant states, the reaffirmation provides diplomatic backing for their legal positions; for China, the statement reiterates international pressure to comply with the award, which Beijing rejects; for ASEAN, the EU's support bolsters efforts toward a Code of Conduct; and for EU member states, the commitment to free navigation underscores their strategic interests in the region's sea lanes.