Presidential adviser Concepcion: Relations between Philippines and EU to be resolved with new administration

A presidential adviser is optimistic that the relationship with the European Union will be resolved by the change in leadership, after its parliament warned of a temporary withdrawal of trade perks until the Philippines addresses issues on human rights.

According to President Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III, relations between the two parties are expected to be renewed with a new president, as the country is set to hold its national elections in May.

“I think things will change and I think that normally in the ASEAN, you always have that issue, I mean when it comes to trade,” he said during the Pandesal Forum on Monday.

“I believe as we elect a new leader, there will be a reset in relationships, no, and I’m optimistic that that issue can be resolved with this election coming in, a new president, and I’m sure everybody will want to reset that relationship,” he continued.

The Philippines will hold its national and local elections on May 9 this year.

This comes after the European Union Parliament last week adopted a resolution calling on the EU Commission to implement benchmarks for the Philippines to achieve with its human rights issues, and to start the temporary removal of trade incentives.

Some 627 members of parliament voted in favor of the measure, 21 voted against, and 31 abstained from voting.

For his part, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Philippines has been cooperating with the EU, and has addressed concerns in dialogue mechanisms.

“The allegations are not new, and the Philippine government has always responded and been giving submissions to facilitate the EU GSP plus monitoring to show the country’s compliance with the 27 international core conventions on HR, labor, environment, and good governance,” he explained in a separate statement.

The Generalized System of Preference Plus (GSP+), currently under review by the EU, is a tariff mechanism that gives developing countries—including the Philippines—the privilege of exporting zero-duty merchandise to EU member states.

It requires the Philippine ratification of 27 international conventions which cater to human and labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance, among others.

“To date, the Philippines still enjoys EU GSP plus preferences, and this actually redounds to the benefit not only of the investors but the marginalized sectors of the economy, the fisherfolks, farmers, MSMEs, the workers in the value chain of the exporters, precisely fulfilling the objectives of the GSP plus, which is to help address poverty and inequality,” Lopez said.

The Philippines in 2020 exported some 1.6-billion Euro worth of goods under the GSP+, reflecting an all-time high utilization rate of 75% for eligible exports.

The EU has repeatedly stressed the importance of human rights as one of the requisites under the GSP+ as far back as 2017.

European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malstrom then said the Philippines could possibly lose billions of dollars in trade deals with the EU should judicial concerns in the country persist.

The EU parliament issued a resolution urging Philippine authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the death toll into the bloody war on drugs under President Rodrigo Duterte.

That drew a rebuke from Duterte, who cursed the EU for allegedly meddling in Philippine affairs. — RSJ, GMA News