The occasion marked the relaunch of bike racks at Rizal Park Luneta, an initiative supported by the European Union (EU) and carried out in partnership with the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC). More than a ribbon-cutting, the event felt like a quiet but determined celebration of urban possibilities where heritage spaces and modern lifestyles can coexist.

“The European Union has set ambitious targets to combat climate change. We are working to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. But we know that climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions,” said EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro.

“It is heartwarming to note that today we are all convinced that soft mobility, through public transport and bicycles, are effective and affordable solutions for achieving these objectives,” he added.

For Luneta visitors, the newly rehabilitated bike racks are a small but meaningful invitation: arrive by bicycle, linger longer, breathe easier.

According to Ambassador Santoro, the racks represent cycling as a viable and accessible mode of transport; one that reduces carbon emissions and traffic congestion, improves air quality, and supports a healthier lifestyle within the city’s most iconic green space.

The project extends beyond Luneta, with similar facilities rehabilitated in Intramuros, reinforcing the idea that even heritage districts can welcome contemporary, climate-friendly habits.

As NPDC Deputy Executive Director Jezreel Gaius A. Apelar put it: “These facilities and partnerships stand as a testament to our shared commitment to promoting active mobility, sustainability, and inclusivity in our public spaces. They also represent our support for environmentally responsible transport and our dedication to making our parks more accessible to all through international cooperation.”

The relaunch drew support from cycling groups and sustainable-living advocates including Kalyetista, CYCAD, Cyclebros, Firefly Brigade, Tiklop Society of the Philippines, PINASLOWRIDAZBC, and Make it Safer Movement—communities that see bicycles not just as transport, but as tools for connection.

In a symbolic moment, participants rang their bike bells in unison, a lighthearted call for families and communities to do their share in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reclaiming streets for people.

Mia Bunao, Administrator of Kalyetista/Explore Your City on a Bicycle, described the project as more than infrastructure: an enduring gift that fosters community and reflects pakikipagkapwa (being one with others) in the shared mission to build livable cities.

Poetry, too, found its place among spokes and spokespeople. Dr. Roselle Leah Rivera of Firefly Brigade Inc remarked: “We summon the city to the dusk-dance of wheels, pedals pulsing like heartbeats in cooling twilight. Fireflies reborn in flickering bike-lights as communities rise, ride, and breathe as one, each crank-turn sparking awareness and every mile rekindling climate courage.”

For Pio Fortuno Jr., President of Tiklop Society of the Philippines, the moment carried both symbolic and practical weight: “Today is a great day, as we bear witness to the relaunching of the bike racks at the Luneta. While every completion of any bicycle friendly infrastructure is a cause for celebration, this one is special since it allows bicycle access to the Philippines’ foremost historical landmark, and it is made possible from friends from the European Union.”

In a city often defined by congestion and concrete, the return of bike racks to Luneta is a reminder that progress does not always roar. Sometimes, it arrives quietly on two wheels, with a ringing bell, and the promise of a softer way to move.

The scholars will be hosted by universities across different EU member states, with many of them studying in more than one country during their programme. Erasmus+ is structured to give students access to world-class academic expertise while also allowing them to experience Europe’s cultural diversity and multilingual environment.

At the official send-off ceremony in Manila, European Union Delegation Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Frederic Grillet congratulated the awardees and called on them to become “ambassadors of goodwill and agents of change,” noting that their experience will help deepen the partnership between the EU and the Philippines. He also urged them to contribute their knowledge and perspectives to the country after completing their studies abroad.

This year’s ceremony was organized by the EU Delegation to the Philippines in collaboration with Campus Erasmus, the alumni network of Erasmus+ scholars from the Philippines.

The Erasmus+ Programme provides Filipino students with the opportunity to study, live, and integrate into European society for one to two years while gaining exposure to innovative learning systems and global perspectives. Since its establishment (previously known as Erasmus Mundus), Erasmus+ has supported thousands of scholars worldwide, with Filipinos consistently among its successful beneficiaries.

Through this programme, the EU reinforces its commitment to education, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connectivity, strengthening the enduring relationship between Europe and the Philippines.

The exhibition documents the sixty years of EU–Philippines relations since the presentation of credentials by the first Philippine Ambassador to the European Commission H.E. Vicente I. Singian, in 1964. The EU Delegation to the Philippines was officially opened on May 15, 1991.

The exhibition uses images sounds, and objects to chronicle the friendship and cooperation between the EU and the Philippines over the last six decades.

The exhibition is one of a series of events organised by the EU Delegation to the Philippines to celebrate six decades of partnership and friendship with the Philippines. Recently it also conducted a choral festival “Sounds of Celebration: Sixty Years of EU-PH Relations” in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Shared Journey: 60 Years of EU-PH Diplomatic Relations

H. E. Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines together with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega opened the exhibition with Yuchengco Museum Executive Director and Curator Jeannie Javelosa.

Ambassador Véron underscored the longstanding partnership of the European Union with the Philippines and their shared commitment to a rules-based international order.

The EU Ambassador also mentioned the collaboration on circular economy, sustainable energy and enhanced connectivity to build a greener and more interconnected future.

Over the years, political and diplomatic relations between the EU and the Philippines have transitioned from being primarily focused on developmental goals to a wide range of areas, including political relations, trade and economic cooperation, security, transport, education and culture, health, etc.

In 2018, the EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation entered into force. This agreement signaled the initiation of collaboration across various areas of mutual interest, encompassing politics, society, economics, counterterrorism, transnational crime prevention, human rights, justice, peace efforts, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, trade, migration, maritime labour, employment, disaster risk management, and health.

From 1991 to 1994, the Philippines served as country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue relations. The Philippines is once again the country coordinator from August 2021 until August 2024.

Europe Day Reception 2024

Meanwhile, Europe Day reception was held on May 9, 2024 with Ambassador Véron and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Antonio Morales and the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Most Reverend Charles Brown, leading the toast. Europe Day marks the founding of the European Union and is celebrated by EU Delegations across the globe.

The award-winning choir in the choral festival “Sounds of Celebration: Sixty Years of EU-PH Relations”, “Los Cantantes de Manila”, conducted by Darwin Vargas, rendered the anthem of the Philippines and the EU Hymn. The choir was the Grand Prix Winner 2015 Busan Choral Festival and Competition and First Prize 2017 and 2023 editions of Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition in Germany. In July of this year, the choir is set to represent the Philippines in competitions in Italy, Spain and Hungary. Atty Karen Jimeno was the master of ceremonies.

Iconic buildings and monuments such as the Rizal Monument and Dancing Fountain in Rizal Park, the National Museum of the Philippines, the De La Salle University and Heroes Square hosting the Honorary Consulate of Georgia, in Manila, the Mabalacat City College, and the University of the Philippines in Miagao, were illuminated in the EU flag blue and yellow colors to mark this occasion.

Philippine national maritime law enforcement agencies worked together this week to facilitate and enhance national inter-agency information sharing and operational coordination among them with the main goal of securing the Philippine maritime jurisdiction.

The national agencies participating were: the National Coast Watch Center (NCW Center), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Armed Forces of the Philippines Command Center (AFPCC), Intelligence Service of Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). Other maritime agencies also attended the event: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Space Agency, Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Air Force, Department of Trade and Industry-Strategic Trade Management Office, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan and Philippine Ports Authority.

The Command Post Exercise “PAGHAHANDA” 2023 was jointly organised by the Philippines’ National Coast Watch Center (NCW Center) and the European Union funded project CRIMARIO II and was held in Manila from 28 November to 01 December 2023. The Exercise facilitated fruitful discussions among the representatives of the Philippines maritime law enforcement agencies on the benefits, impediments and relevant solutions enabling inter-agency information sharing and coordination in addressing maritime security challenges.

More importantly, it created a suitable venue for buidling up national inter-agency Standard Operating Procedures for coordination and information exchange which will be used in facilitating coordination in IORIS the Indo-Pacific Information Sharing Platform.

IORIS is a neutral, reliable, and user-friendly maritime information-sharing tool which enables inter-agency communication in a protected environment. IORIS’s primary function is to provide maritime centres, organisations, and agencies with an inclusive and efficient means to analyse, plan, and coordinate maritime operations at sea connecting domestic and international stakeholders to address the evolving and complex challenges within the maritime domain.

The Comand-Post Exercise “PAGHAHANDA” 2023 aimed to test the IORIS coordination and communication protocols in effectively facilitating the joint detection, identification, and interdiction of maritime threats within the Philippine maritime jurisdiction.

The successful conclusion of the exercise on IORIS demonstrated the willingness and commitment of the Philippines’ national agencies and governmental bodies to work and collaborate together, with the NCW Center as the main catalyst for interagency coordination. The exercise highlighted how strengthening cooperation and coordination could improve the joint response to real-world emergencies in today’s complex maritime world.

At the same time, IORIS proved to be a reliable communications platform for interagency planning and coordination at the national level, facilitating the gathering, analysis, and exchange of information to timely and efficiently respond to complex and evolving maritime threats.

In his opening remarks, Philippine Coast Guard Vice Admiral Roy A Echeverria, the Director of the NCW Center, shared the importance of diverse group of participants working together towards one goal. He also emphasized the importance of the participation of maritime law enforcement agencies in operationalizing IORIS in their organization and for improved information-sharing among the Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies which will also benefit for strengthened and effective maritime security operations.

Participating in the event, Frederic Grillet, First Secretary at the EU Delegation to the Philippines added: “By participating in inter-agency exercises like PAGHAHANDA 23 and working towards the establishment of a national governance of IORIS, the Philippine sets an example for the countries in the region and transmit the message that the country is ready to cooperate regionally in addressing maritime security challenges. This will also determine the rate of expansion of IORIS in the region, because you will be the proof of its added value in strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness and increasing your country’s contribution to the blue economy and prosperity through a safe and secure maritime trade ”

Alexandru Chiric, the CRIMARIO representative for Southeast Asia said, “The role of the NCW Center as the national coordinator and administrator of IORIS is paramount in supporting the use of the platform as an advanced and more efficient inter-agency coordination and planning tool.”

Martin Cauchi-Inglott, CRIMARIO project director concluded: “The Philippines has been at the forefront of welcoming IORIS to the region and is now set to lead the way in taking ownership of IORIS, allowing itself to drive the process internally, and bridge to external partners whenever it deems necessary. My hearty congratulations go to these most professional maritime agencies participating in the exercises in the past days and to the NCW Center for co-organising and playing an essential role in conducting it”.

Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, joined Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva – the key actors of the Justice Sector Coordination Council (JSCC)- for the launch of the Tagaytay City Justice Zone at the Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City.

“The European Union has been a committed partner to the Philippine’s Justice Sector since 2006, and has been involved in justice sector coordination since its early stages. We have supported the creation of justice zones since 2014 and are honoured to continue our support to this policy that puts people at the center of justice reform efforts, by bringing all justice actors at the local level together to tackle the sector’s challenges. Today, we are proud to see the launching of yet a new Justice Zone in Tagaytay City”, said Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Philippines.

Tagaytay’s is the second justice zone — after Zamboanga City — with a thematic focus: economic development and tourism. Tagaytay is the most popular tourist destination near Metro Manila. City authorities see the setting up of this justice zone as a means to help the city’s economic development by addressing criminal justice issues. This could include fast tracking cases of a criminal nature involving tourists, establishing a Tourist Police Unit and Foreign Information and Assistance Desk in key tourist spots. The Justice Zone, supported by the European Union and the JSCC, is designed to enhance the communication, coordination and cooperation between government agencies and non-government organizations to ensure the swift and fair administration of justice.

Since 2014, Justice sector coordination aims to improve efficiency in the administration of criminal justice by ensuring that all agencies and institutions involved work together effectively. Tagaytay City will be the 11th Justice Zone to be launched, joining Quezon City, Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Bacolod, Naga, Calamba, Balanga, Baguio, Zamboanga. The recently approved Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 has endorsed the coordination policy as a way to improve the sector’s efficiency and accountability and to bring about long term sustainable reforms. According to the PDP, 4 new justice zones will be launched every year during the Plan’s period.

After an online and hybrid screenings of the past Cine Europa due to the pandemic, the EU Delegation, the EU Member States Embassies, together with Goethe Institut Manila are proud to present the 26^th edition of Cine Europa which will run from June 16 to July 16, 2023, but this time 100% physical screenings.

As expected, the longest and biggest film festival of the European Union in the Philippines, the Cine Europa will draw more viewers, especially from the European movie pundits to watch the various acclaimed movies to be shown at Cine Europa 26.

This year, Cine Europa brings 28 multi-awarded films from different EU Member States, as well as our guest country, Ukraine. These films may be watched onsite in our venue partners in Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao. 

The following are the schedules and venues for the Cine Europa 26:

June 16 to 18: Shangri-la Plaza 

June 21 to 23: Film Development Council of the Philippines, Kalaw, Manila  June 24- 25: Cultural Center of the Philippines – Open grounds June 30 to July 2: Rizal Open Park Auditorium – Luneta Park  

July 5 to 7: SM Cinema Cebu 

July 8 to 9, and July 12-16: Film Development Council Iloilo 

July 14-16: Film Development Council Negros (Bacolod)  July 14-16: Film Development Council Davao 

As always, the EU is grateful to its loyal partners – the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the National Parks and Development Committee, the Cultural Center of the  Philippines, Shangri-La Properties, and SM Cinemas. 

Cine Europa 26 opens to the Filipino audience with the film Historja – Stitches for Sapmi from Sweden, that will be screened at Cinema 3, Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La  Plaza, on 16 June 2023, 7:30pm. This Swedish films is a documentary about the Sami female artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, whose art showcases the past and the present of Sami culture, and how reindeer husbandry is being affected by the global climate crisis. 

The other films that will be screened at Cine Europa 26 are: 

1. Murina, from Croatia and Slovenia, is a coming of age film about a teenager,  her father, and an old friend with a life-changing deal.

2. My Love Affair with Marriage, a co-production from Latvia and Luxembourg  – an animated feature film for adult audiences focusing on young Zelma and  her quest for a perfect love and lasting marriage. 

3. Sweat, from Poland, follows Sylwia Zając, a celebrity fitness motivator who is  looking for true intimacy. 

4. Rien à Foutre (“Zero Fucks Given”), from Belgium – a fictional film that follows Cassandra, a flight attendant that was floating through her life until she is forced to confront situations, she is running from. 

5. Ensilumi (“Any Day Now”), from Finland – another fictional film that follows and Iranian family that lives in a refugee centre and their process of filing for asylum. 

6. Miss Viborg, a film from Denmark about two women from two different  generations that have an unlikely friendship and become companions in healing  and hope. This film was awarded the Best Nordic/Dutch Film Award in the  Santa Barbara International Film Festival. 

7. The Cleaners, from Germany – a sinister documentary about the work of  “content moderators”, follows an organisation in Manila that operates in the  industries that require content moderators 

8. Szelíd (“Gentle”), from Hungary, is a fictional documentary about a female  bodybuilder whose dream is to win Miss Olympia. 

9. Ramona, from Spain, is a comedy about the immortal feud between sense and sensibility. 

10. Io Sto Bene, a co-production between Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and Italy that shows parallel destinies and a future full of peace for them both. 

11. Dodo, from Greece – a comedy about a dodo bird (species that disappeared 300  years ago) making a reappearance that will spiral a family’s boundaries out of their control. 

12. Róise & Frank, a film from Ireland about a widowed Róise who believes that  a stray dog embodies the spirit of her late husband Frank – a warm-hearted and  witty tale about finding hope in dark places 

13. Moi dumky tykhi (“My thoughts are silent”), a Ukrainian film that explores the eternal problem of parents and children, by showcasing a mother and son relationship where the son wants to move to a different country. 

14. Lyuksemburh, Lyuksemburh (“Luxembourg, Luxembourg”) – a Ukrainian comedy about two children in search for their father in Luxembourg. 

15. Marocco/Mikado, a co-produced drama from Romania and the Czech  Republic about a father-daughter relationship faced with chaos and irreversible outcomes.

16. OSS 117: From Africa with Love — OSS 117 is France’s finest secret agent and he’s heading to Africa for what could be the trickiest mission ever! 

17. Os Demónios Do Meu Avô, an animated film co-produced by Portugal, Spain and France that follows Rosa and her journey back to her native village on the border between Spain and Portugal. 

18. Srdce na dlani, a comedy from the Czech Republic about falling in love where  love pays no mind to age or place. It follows the characters as they navigate  through love’s hope and beauty but also its complications and obstacles. 

19. Imad’s Barndom (“Imad’s Childhood”) – a documentary co-produced from Sweden, and Latvia about a family that was released from ISIS captivity and placed in a displaced persons’ camp in Kurdistan. 

20. Golata istina za grupa Zhuguli (“The Naked Truth about Zhugui”), from  Bulgaria – a fictional film about a band that disbanded 30 years before and is  being rounded back together for a 50^th anniversary concert. 

21. Girl, from Belgium – a film about a 15-year-old that dreams about becoming a ballerina, Lara. 

22. Bėgikė (“Runner”), a co-production from Lithuania and the Czech Republic about Marija and her frantic search for her boyfriend, in what is described as a  story of sacrifice and the achievement of total freedom. 

23. Mitra, a film from the Netherlands about Haleh and the woman that betrayed her and caused the death of her daughter in Iran 37 years ago – a story about revenge and friendship. 

24. Kratt, from Estonia is about a magical creature who will do whatever its master says, with the quest to buy a soul from the devil. 

25. Smagen af sult (“A Taste of Hunger”) from Denmark, about a family their  gourmet restaurant and their quest for a Michelin Star. 

26. Olmo, from Italy – a short story about an 80 year old, Olmo, and his 8 year old  grandson, Giulio, and their search for an old tree 

27. Le Variabili Dipendenti, another short from Italy, about two characters, Pietro  and Tommaso, who are curious and are getting to know each other 

So what are you waiting for? Follow us on Cine Europa Philippines https://twitter.com/cineeuropaph and Instagram and enjoy Cine Europa 26 at its finest!

The Euro Village offers an exciting and dynamic sample of European Union culture, arts, music, food and gastronomy, products, crafts, languages, sports – all in two days and in one hub. You can find the best novelties from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania and Finland. In solidarity with Ukraine in these dire hours, Euro Village will also feature Ukrainian participation.

Admission is open to the public for free from 4pm to 12 midnight.

Teqball is a football-based sport, played on a specially-curved table, which is attracting a new generation of athletes and enthusiasts called “teqers”.  Created in Hungary in 2012, teqball is a gender-equitable game, as it can be played between two (singles) or four players (doubles), irrespective of gender.

The sport follows a points-based scoring format and can be played on various surfaces such as sand, acrylic or indoors. It allows players a maximum of three touches before returning the ball to the opponent, so if you can juggle a football three times, you will excel at teqball. Teqball was invented in Hungary by three football enthusiasts: former professional player Gábor Borsányi; Hungarian businessman György Gattyán; and computer scientist Viktor Huszár.

From the Embassy of Finland, you will get the chance to learn about Mölkky, a Finnish throwing game with characteristics similar to games like bowling, kubb and pétanque.

It was created by the company Lahden Paikka – formerly known as Tuoterengas – in 1996. It was probably inspired by the Finnish word pölkky, which means block of wood. Mölkky is a game that requires both skill and precision, but also a strategical mindset!

Today, Mölkky tournaments are played all over the world. There is also a Mölkky World Championship (with around 200 teams of 4 to 6 players participating) organized every year.

Next weekend, apart from these exciting sports demonstrations, you will also have the chance to taste delectable food and drinks from the EU.  From bread and rye, waffles, sausages, dairy products and beer, to special concerts and sports demonstration, the Euro Village has lovely surprises in one go.  

For those aspiring to learn a European language but who have not yet had the time to try, the Euro Village cultural and language center will bring French, German, Italian and Spanish lessons in a snap, thanks to the collaboration of Alliance Française de Manille, Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes Manila and the Philippine-Italian Association.

Those who are interested on European music or would like to jam with artists, the Euro Village will have guest performers from Romania, Ukraine and a serenade from the Manila String Machine, who will be rendering European songs and pieces.

Fantastic mimes and buskers will also be available to entertain guests and participants throughout the two-day European festival. To ensure that this EU’s initiative promotes a sustainable lifestyle and reduction of greenhouse emissions, the EU has engaged with Green Space, Scholars of Sustenance Philippines and EcoNest as sustainability partners.

For more details, visit the FB page facebook.com/EuroVillage. A digital passport is also in store for you in your journey through the EuroVillage.

Once established, the structure would allow the Philippines to be integrated into the wider IORIS Community being developed, to address maritime challenges, with the twofold objective being to facilitate the enhanced exchange of information with regional partners, whilst also ensuring for the long-term implementation and sustainability of the platform.

Philippines’ maritime agencies have received extensive training on the IORIS platform since 2021, and its use has harmonised inter-agency information flows, promoted collaboration and trust, and enhanced interoperability amongst one another ever since.

With the creation of the IORIS National Governance Structure, the signatory agencies agreed to become active members of the IORIS National Board, assuring the proper functionality of the platform at national and regional level, to best serve the operational needs of its users, remaining aligned with the tool’s fundamental objectives: interconnecting maritime agencies/authorities, at national and regional level, to better address maritime security and safety challenges nationally and in the Indo-Pacific region, also supporting sustainable fisheries.

Closing the event, Martin Cauchi-Inglott, CRIMARIO project director said: “Philippines has been at the forefront of welcoming IORIS to the region, the action even commencing with intensity when COVID was at its peak. Philippines is now set to lead the way in taking ownership of IORIS, allowing itself to drive the process internally, and bridge to external partners whenever it deems necessary. My hearty congratulations go to these most professional maritime agencies coming on board.”

The event was organised by CRIMARIO, an EU funded project established in 2015 to contribute to enhancing maritime domain awareness, and which now addresses maritime security and safety threats, in collaboration with the Philippines National Coast Watch Center. This inter-agency body provides strategic direction and formulates and promulgates policy guidelines on maritime issues and security in the country.

Cycling in Europe has become part of its culture, a sustainable mode of transport, and an effective way to reach the EU’s objective in reducing emissions by at least 40% by 2030.

The Philippines has committed in the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions by 75% a target that is achievable with the efforts that the Government is implementing, among them the promotion of sustainable transport and cycling.

“Speaking from experience as I used my bike to work when I was in Europe, I can say that cycling combines several advantages: it is cheap, non-pollutant and healthy. Through this partnership we want to express our enthusiasm and support for the Filipino community in our shared endeavour of integrating cycling in our lifestyles, Ambassador Luc Véron said.”

Women and girls are among those severely hit by the impact of the ongoing pandemic.

The health and socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis are disproportionately affecting women and girls. For example, in the global scale, because a higher proportion of women work informally and in vulnerable sectors, their job loss rate is 1.8 times greater than that of men. The poverty rate among women could go up by 9.1%.

To address these gaps, the new Gender Action Plan III launched last November put forward ambitious plans to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through all external action of the European Union (EU).  While there has been some significant but uneven progress achieved in advancing women’s and girls’ rights, no country in the world is on track to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.

The EU’s new Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action 2021–2025 (GAP III) aims to accelerate progress on empowering women and girls, and safeguard gains made on gender equality during the 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action.

High Representative of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, said: “Ensuring the same rights to all empowers our societies. It makes them richer and more secure. It is a fact that goes beyond principles or moral duties. The participation and leadership of women and girls is essential for democracy, justice, peace, security, prosperity and a greener planet. With this new Gender Action Plan, we are pushing for more and faster progress towards gender equality.”

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, said: “Stronger engagement on gender equality is key to a sustainable global recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and building fairer, more inclusive, more prosperous societies. Women and girls are in the frontline of the pandemic and must be put in the driving seat of the recovery. As a gender-sensitive and responsive geopolitical Commission, we want to work more closely with our Member States, as well as all partners, in building a truly gender-equal world.”

Promoting gender equality in EU external action 2021-2025

The Gender Action Plan III provides the EU with a policy framework with five pillars of action for accelerating progress towards meeting international commitments and a world in which everyone has space to thrive. It makes the promotion of gender equality a priority of all external policies and actions; offers a roadmap for working together with stakeholders at national, regional and multilateral levels; steps up action in strategic thematic areas; calls for the institutions to lead by example, and; ensures the transparency of the results.

Gender Mainstreaming in the Agenda of the EU in the Philippines

In the Philippines, women benefit from important legislative advancements and the gender gap has been narrowed in education, decision-making positions and participation in economic opportunities.

However women still bear the burden of poverty, economic disadvantage, early pregnancy, domestic violence and exploitation.

The European Union and its Member States work hand in hand in the implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan in the Philippines. Putting gender mainstreaming high on its agenda, the EU ensures that programmes implemented in the country are screened through a gender lens taking into consideration the needs of women.

The EU is also keen to advance a gender equality agenda in the Philippines. An EU Gender Champion was appointed in 2020 in the person of Ambassador of Austria H.E. Ms Bita Rasoulian. The EU Head of Delegation and Ambassadors of the EU MS are committed to be  gender responsive leaders and advance the gender agenda in their work.

The EU also funds actions to support women, like two big programmes implemented by UN agencies: the ‘Safe and Fair’ programme supporting female migrant workers and the ‘WeEmpowerAsia’ programme promoting women economic empowerment.

Other issues have been tackled by EU’s engagement, among others through the civil society sector, like safety of women journalists, women in agriculture, sexual and reproductive health or participation in decision making. With the new Gender Action Plan III the EU and its Member States will strive to do better and more for gender equality and women empowerment in the Philippines.

FIVE PILLARS  OF THE EU GENDER ACTION PLAN

The five pillars of action are:

1)           Eighty – five percent of all new actions throughout external relations will contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment by 2025.

2)           Shared strategic vision and close cooperation with Member States and partners at multilateral, regional and country level. GAP III makes the case for developing a common approach for all EU actors at country-level and for focusing on selected strategic issues.

3)           GAP III calls for accelerating progress, focusing on the key thematic areas of engagement, including fighting against gender-based violence and promoting the economic, social and political empowerment of women and girls.

4)           Leading by example. The action plan calls for the European Union to lead by example, including by establishing gender-responsive and gender-balanced leadership at top political and management levels.

5)           Measuring results. GAP III adopts a new approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning, with a stronger focus on measuring results.

A transformative approach

Contributing to empowering women, girls and young people to fully use their rights and increase their participation in political, economic, social, and cultural life is a key objective of the new action plan. GAP III strongly supports the participation and leadership of girls and women, promoting it, for example, through governance programmes and public administration reforms. GAP III will promote a transformative and intersectional approach, and will mainstream gender in all policies and actions. Finally, to leave no one behind, the action plan seeks to tackle all intersecting dimensions of discrimination, paying specific attention for example to women with disabilities, migrant women, and discrimination based on age or sexual orientation.