A high-level delegation from the European Parliament is in the Philippines from February 16 to 18 to strengthen political and economic ties and lend momentum to ongoing negotiations for a future EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA), building on the long-standing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that already underpins bilateral relations.
The visit by members of the Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA), led by Chair Bernd Lange of Germany, comes amid growing geopolitical shifts that are pushing both sides to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and economic security across the Indo-Pacific.
“The mission aims to build upon the recent very good progress in negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the ASEAN country and demonstrate the Parliament’s commitment to supporting the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year,” according to an EU announcement.
“Additionally, it provides an opportunity to address the EU’s trade and economic relations with the Indo-Pacific region, as well as more global issues, such as the current endeavors to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO),” it added.
Joining Lange in the delegation are Jörgen Warborn of Sweden, the INTA standing rapporteur for the Philippines; Iuliu Winkler of Romania; Inese Vaidere of Latvia; Cristina Maestre of Spain; Petras Auštrevičius of Lithuania; and Wouter Beke of Belgium, chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN.
The end-2026 deadline is tied to the Philippines’ continued access to the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which is set to expire at the end of 2027.
If an FTA is concluded by 2026, it would allow time for ratification and implementation before GSP+ preferences lapse. Missing that window would not terminate negotiations but could narrow the transition period between preferential schemes.
In this context, the current visit is seen as part of a broader push to accelerate talks, ensure continuity in trade relations, and anchor EU-Philippines economic ties more firmly in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
The PCA, signed in 2012 and in force since March 1, 2018, serves as the umbrella framework for bilateral engagement. It covers political dialogue, economic cooperation, human rights, security, energy, environmental issues, and development collaboration. It does not govern tariffs or market access but sets the foundation for deeper sectoral and economic engagement.
The FTA, on the other hand, is a separate and more technical legal instrument focused specifically on trade and investment liberalization. It aims to address market access for goods and services, investment rules, government procurement, intellectual property, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, digital trade, and sustainability provisions.
Negotiations for the EU-Philippines FTA were relaunched in March 2024, with several chapters already substantially concluded, including those on MSMEs, transparency, sustainable food systems, good regulatory practices, and trade and sustainable development. However, the agreement is not yet finalized or in force.