MANILA – The European Union Delegation in Manila on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to securing "free and open" maritime supply routes in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a virtual forum, EU Ambassador Luc Véron said the bloc's new Indo-Pacific strategy seeks to contribute to the region's stability, security, prosperity, and sustainable development, in line with the principles of the rule of law and international law.
"Our strategy is one of cooperation, not confrontation, focusing on key challenges like the pandemic, climate change, digital, and security," he said.
"The EU is committed to secure free and open maritime supply routes in the Indo-Pacific, in full compliance with international law, in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the interest of all," he added.
Veron said the EU strongly opposes any unilateral actions that could undermine regional stability and the international rules-based order, citing the statement EU issued in April 2021 following the swarming of some 200 Chinese vessels in the Whitsun Reef.
Meanwhile, Veron said the bloc supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-led process towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct on the South China Sea.
He said the EU's commitments in the region have always been clear --to foster a strategic partnership with Asean and serve as a "staunch defender of the rules-based international system".
Veron did not provide further details but he shared that the EU has "started to support the Philippines in the maritime domain awareness area".
Aside from fostering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Veron said the bloc also continues to step up its contribution to the global pandemic response by contributing to the COVAX Facility, which has already distributed millions of vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries, including the Philippines.
He said the EU, its member states, and financial institutions will continue to step up their contribution to the international response to the pandemic.
"The EU with its member states is on track to provide hundreds of millions of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine doses by the end of 2021, mainly through COVAX, to countries, which need them most. In addition, the EU and its member states are lead contributors to the COVAX Facility with close to €3 billion pledged to date," he added.
Sharing many interests from vaccine cooperation to rebuilding economies, Veron said the EU looks forward to increasing its engagement in the region, particularly with the Asean. (PNA)
