Experts from the Philippines and the European Union (EU) have joined forces to tackle growing threats to sea cables, cyber networks, and other critical infrastructure that keep global communications and economies running.
The high-level seminar, held on Thursday in Manila, marked the first collaboration following the formal launch of the Philippines-EU Security and Defense Dialogue last month. The event was hosted by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and supported by the EU’s Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific (ESIWA+) initiative.
Participants from both sides zeroed in on the rising risks of so-called hybrid threats, which blend cyberattacks, misinformation, and physical sabotage to target essential services. They explored how to better protect these systems and how both the EU and the Philippines can work together to respond swiftly and effectively when threats emerge.
In her welcome remarks, DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Deena Joy Amatong emphasized the shared responsibility in keeping these infrastructures safe: “The responsibility to protect critical infrastructure extends across local, national, and international levels, requiring coordinated efforts to ensure the safety, stability, and resilience of societies—both today and for future generations.”
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro assured Filipino partners that the EU is ready to share knowledge, tools, and experience: “EU policies and initiatives on critical infrastructure protection include, among others, the Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities, EU Maritime Security Strategy, the Network and Information Systems Directive, the EU Action Plan on the Security of Submarine Cables and the Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection project.”
“These robust EU frameworks can serve as reference points for developing joint strategies to bolster the resilience of critical infrastructure, facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiatives, and establishing collaborative mechanisms for incident response and information sharing,” he added.
Philippine representatives came from various national agencies tasked with protecting key systems, while the EU side featured speakers from Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Lithuania, and Romania—showcasing “Team Europe’s” broad expertise.
This recent activity builds on a growing partnership between the Philippines and the EU, especially in security-related cooperation. In November 2024, both parties held a workshop in Manila focusing on deradicalizing inmates with links to terrorism, gathering experts from across the Indo-Pacific region and the EU.
The ESIWA+ program, which co-organized the event, works to enhance collaboration in cyber security, maritime security, counterterrorism, and crisis response. It is jointly funded by the European Commission’s foreign policy arm and the governments of Germany and France, and is implemented by German development agency GIZ and Expertise France.
As digital and maritime infrastructure become increasingly vulnerable in a rapidly shifting security landscape, both the EU and the Philippines are looking to tighten cooperation and share resources to stay ahead of emerging threats.
