RP, EU conclude PCA after 2 years
Business Mirror | Monday, 07 June 2010
RP, EU conclude PCA after 2 years
Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
AFTER two years of intense negotiations, the Philippines and the European Union have concluded the Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that covers political issues, counterterrorism, human rights, trade and migration cooperation.
Philippine Ambassador to the EU Enrique Manalo led the concluding negotiations in Brussels, while James Moran of the External Relations Directorate General represented the EU.
Manalo said the PCA replaces an “outmoded and insufficient” bilateral agreement with the EU signed in 1980.
“I believe the PCA provides an opportunity and basis for RP and EU to work closely together in addressing real challenges such as the global financial crisis, migration, the pursuit of development goals, expanding trade and investment, improving development cooperation, and promoting international peace and security, and human rights,” said Manalo.
Negotiations for the PCA started in 2006 and one of the series of deadlocks involved Philippine reluctance to commit to the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to opposition of the military and the police, who raised concerns that the Muslim and Marxist rebellions could expose them to harassment suits.
An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said instead of a commitment to ratify the Rome Statute, the Philippines agreed on the clause: “We recognize that the most heinous crimes of international concern must not go unpunished.”
The PCA is expected to improve the situation of Filipino workers in EU member-countries by preventing them being victimized by illegal recruiters.
The bilateral agreement qualifies the Philippines to engage in the ongoing free-trade agreement between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that aims to facilitate trade and investments between the world’s largest and influential regional blocs.
