Newly appointed Thai Foreign Minister to visit the Philippines
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PR-035-09, 06 February 2009 – Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will visit the Philippines on 08-09
February upon the invitation of Secretary Alberto G. Romulo.
Minister Kasit was appointed by Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 22 December 2008. Minister Kasit is
a seasoned diplomat. Prior to his appointment, he was ambassador to Germany, Japan and the US.
Minister Kasit was educated at Georgetown University, and the Institute of Social Studies in The Netherlands.
During his brief visit, Minister Kasit will call on Secretary Romulo and the President. They are expected to
discuss bilateral and regional issues and concerns including the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of
Philippines-Thai diplomatic relations and the 16th ASEAN Summit to be held in Hua Hin, Thailand from 27
February to 01 March 2009. The two Foreign Ministers are also expected to exchange views on the financial
crisis facing the region and the world. END
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Philippines, European Union to hold initial talks on Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement
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PR-034-09, 06 February 2009 – The Philippines welcomes the start of negotiations with the European Union
(EU) on a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).
The idea for a “new generation bilateral agreement” between the Philippines and the European Union was
broached by the EU during the 4th RP-EU Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in February 2005. During the 7th
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) in Beijing, China in October 2008, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and
European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso announced the start of negotiations on the PCA.
During the meeting, President Arroyo agreed that the PCA would potentially open wide opportunities for
greater collaboration in a range of areas, and would stimulate greater Philippine trade and investment links
with Europe. Both leaders expressed satisfaction on the level of relations between the Philippines and the
EU, and believed that the agreement could offer greater potentials for an enhanced cooperation.
Bilateral relations between the Philippines and the EU are currently covered under the 1980 ASEAN-
European Community Cooperation Agreement. Post-1980 developments now require an enhanced
framework of relations between the Philippines and the EU, and would open avenues for greater cooperation
in such areas as trade and investment, development cooperation, and other current economic and financial
matters. The PCA would also provide a foundation for intensifying bilateral cooperation with an enlarged EU,
In preparing for the beginning of the PCA negotiations, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) led inter-
agency consultations on the PCA since late 2006 and has held exploratory talks with the EC on several
occasions. The DFA will continue to consult with the various agencies and other bodies as the negotiation
process unfolds. The Philippines will be the 5th ASEAN member to begin negotiations on the PCA with the
EU. Negotiations have been completed with Indonesia and are currently at an advanced stage with Singapore
and Thailand. The EU has recently begun negotiations with Vietnam and is expected to soon start
negotiations with Malaysia and Brunei.
The European Union is highly significant to the Philippines. The EU is today composed of 27 Member States,
roughly 500 million people, has a higher total GDP than the United States, and its trade with the rest of the
world accounts for 20% of the global total. The EU is the 4th largest trading partner of the Philippines,
accounting for 14% of total trade in goods (behind ASEAN at 20%, China at 17%, and US at 16%). The EU is
the largest foreign investor in the Philippines and the 4th largest source of official development assistance
(ODA). There is a clear need for deeper engagement with the EU to further open up opportunities for trade,
investment and development cooperation. END
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Philippines-European Union Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) Negotiations
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The DFA Press Corps is invited to cover the opening session of the Philippines-European Union Partnership
Cooperation Agreement (PCA) Negotiations on 09 February 2009, from 09:30 to 10:15 a.m., at the 14/F
Summit Lounge of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
On 10 February 2009, the Philippine and the European Union delegations will hold a joint press conference
at 3:30 p.m. at the 14/F Summit Lounge of the Department of Foreign Affairs
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