Philippines and European Union 'compromise language' on grants

By Genalyn D. Kabiling

The European Union (EU) is reportedly planning to give another development aid worth 70 million euros to the Philippines despite the recent tirade by President Duterte.

Former Senator Edgardo Angara, currently President Duterte’s special envoy to the EU, said this would be on top of the 250 million euros recently extended by the  EU for peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

Former Senator Edgardo Angara

“I think they will give us an additional 70 million euros,” Angara told reporters at the sidelines of a regional forum in Pasay City. “I think for Mindanao pa rin,” he added.

Following the President’s complaint against foreign aid that comes with conditions, Angara said the Philippines and EU have already reached a “compromise language” on the issue of grants and other development aid.

“We agreed on a formula that the project to be funded by their grant will be our choice through NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). If they want to revoke or cancel it, it will only be upon mutual consultation. That’s acceptable to us,” he said.

“Because the President was right, why would you give aid that has conditionality,” he added.

Prior to the new arrangement, Angara said the EU had the authority to cancel the aid if “we are violating labor rights, environmental rights and human rights.”

“Now before they do that, we will consult with each other. That’s democratic,” he said.

Angara claimed that reports that the government was rejecting EU aid were already “stale news” following the new arrangement negotiated by the two parties.

“Let’s not revive the warfare. That’s over. That’s stale news,” he said.

The President recently said he was not inclined to accept foreign development aid that comes with conditions that could harm the country’s sovereignty.

In his tirade against the European Union for allegedly meddling with local affairs, the President said the country may be poor but could survive without foreign assistance.

“Kaya ganun na lang ang tingin ko diyan sa EU. Kaya ko ‘yan sila minumura kasi they do not know how to respect sovereignty [That’s why I look the EU that way. That’s why I am cursing them because they do not know how to respect sovereignty],” he said.

“Kailangan natin aid pero kung ganun lang naman, tuturan ka kung paano gawin tapos ‘yung they begin to sukit-sukit — ‘yung try to examine the papers, ‘yung pedantry [We need aid but if that’s the way it’s given, they will teach you how to spend it, they try to examine the papers, the pedantry],” he added.

He said the country cannot be “forever depending on aid.” “That’s very stupid of some public officials to talk of aid as if it is a matter of survival of our country if we do not accept it,” he added.

Philippines seeks expansion of EU GSP privileges

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star) 

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In a presentation at the EU Parliament and meetings with various trade institutions and parliament ministers in Brussels, the Department of Trade and Industry said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and special envoy to the EU Edgardo Angara urged the EU Parliament to further engage the Philippines through the expansion of the GSP+. AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is seeking the expansion of the General System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) from the European Union (EU) amid concerns the present set of privileges would be removed in protest over the alleged extrajudicial killing cases in the country.

In a presentation at the EU Parliament and meetings with various trade institutions and parliament ministers in Brussels, the Department of Trade and Industry said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and special envoy to the EU Edgardo Angara urged the EU Parliament to further engage the Philippines through the expansion of the GSP+.

“We want to follow through the dialogue on the expansion of the GSP+ and move to a long lasting trade concession via a free trade agreement,” Lopez said.

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Lopez said he and Angara assured the parliament and business institutions the Philippines is a strong economic partner and there will be continuing dialogs to ensure they get the real and more objective situation in the country.

“The Philippine delegation also assured the EU that the Philippines continues to adhere to protecting human rights and the President’s zero tolerance for abusive enforcers. There is clear rule of law and strong democracy in the country,” he said.

The Philippines was granted beneficiary country status under the EU-GSP+ in December 2014, allowing it to export 6,274 eligible products duty-free to the EU market.

The alleged cases of extrajudicial killings in the country as part of President Duterte’s drug war, however, has put at risk the country’s GSP+ privileges.

The country’s beneficiary status under the GSP+ necessitates the implementation of the 27 international treaties and conventions on human rights, labor rights, environment and governance.

Results of the latest GSP+ review is expected to come out in January next year.

Restore European trust!

THU, JULY 7, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION

Bye-bye, UK. We’re leaving … .The second-biggest mobile telephone company in the world is considering the possibility of moving its headquarters out of the UK following the Brexit. Should Vodafone decide to relocate, Düsseldorf in Germany could emerge as a top contender to host the head office. Vodafone already has a presence in the German city, where it employs about 5,000 people. Moreover, Germany is the company’s largest market.

Restore EU trust with pragmatism, urges Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. And he is very right.

Europe needs fast and pragmatic moves to demonstrate a strong EU to citizens stunned by the Brexit. Indeed,  governments might need to override a sluggish Brussels.

Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister and long-time advocate of a “deeper” EU, has urged Europe’s governments to quickly tackle and solve “several central problems” to restore trust among its 508-million population. Also

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative ally told newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” (WamS) on last Sunday that it was not the time for visions or treaty reforms.

Yes, “pragmatic” efficacy must be demonstrated by the remaining 27 governments – assuming Britain formally exited the bloc.

How about a shift to inter-governmental precept? “If from the outset not all of the 27 pull their weight, then start with a few less,” Schauble commented. “And, if the [European] Commission does not act jointly, then we’ll take the matter into our hands and just solve the problems between governments.” “This inter-governmental approach proved itself during the Euro crisis,” Schäuble added, mentioning Europe’s asylum and migration policies as issues to which EU citizens wanted answers.

Europe’s member states each needed to clarify what they could do at national level, and “what we can’t do ourselves must be done at European level,” he said. Carrying on as usual was untenable amid “growing demagogy and deeper Euro skepticism,” he added.

Yes, the “EU Brexit summit” closed with continued uncertainty about future. One example among many: the Greece Central Bank reports ‘brain drain’ of 427,000 young, educated Greeks since 2008.

Let’s be honest, the question of whether the European Parliament should get the deciding role or not is not one that especially moves the public. I strongly agree with Schäuble, who was one of the architects of German reunification in the early 1990s.

Schäuble told also that Europe’s current priority should be to prevent “wildfire” disintegration and to avoid “the usual rhetoric,” adding that dumping EU treaties was no immediate answer. “We have to stay serious,” he said, insisting that it was not the moment to concentrate on reform of EU institutions.

Asked whether Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker was the right person as current president of the European Commission, Schäuble replied, “I pushed for Juncker.” “A personnel debate doesn’t get us any further. The Brexit decision must be a wake-up call for Europe,” the cabinet veteran said. “That’s what it’s about,” the 73-year-old, who in the 1980s was ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s chief of staff.

In her weekly video podcast on last Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe should become the most “competitive and knowledge-based continent in the world.” Also on Saturday, Economy Minister and SPD (social demoratic party) leader Sigmar Gabriel said Europe must shift its emphasis to a “growth pact” based on investment programs and “active” policies to boost its labor market.

Why is being a competitive and knowledge-based continent Europe also important for the Philippines? I learned from the German Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Thomas Ossowski, that the meanwhile frozen diplomatic relations between Germany and the Philippines should be restored as well as soon possible – as being discussed in a 40-minutes talk with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visitwww.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogsport.com .

Family-focused CINE EUROPA tours 9 Philippine Cities

By Ibarrao C. Mateo, GMA-TV

The 17th edition of the annual Cine Europa, which begins on Thursday and runs until Sept. 21, showcases 23 movies from 17 countries with a theme focused on the varied cinematic interpretations of contemporary European families.

According to Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines political counselor Julian Vassallo, instead of the festival's usual three-city roadshow this time it will go on a tour of nine cities around the country.

After the Manila leg from Sept. 11 to 21, the festival will move on to Baguio (Sept. 23 to 28), Iloilo (Sept. 30 to Oct. 5), Cebu (Oct. 10 to 12), Leyte (Oct. 16 to 19), Tacloban (Oct. 21 to 26), Davao (Oct. 28 to Nov. 2), Zamboanga (Nov. 4 to 9) and Cagayan de Oro (Nov. 13-16).

In a message, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux said “events on the ground”—the three-week attack on Zamboanga City by followers of Nur Misuari—prevented them from taking the festival to Zamboanga last year, “but we are confident we will succeed this time around.”

“For the first time, we will screen our movies for audiences in Zamboanga as well as Baybay, Leyte and even Tacloban, where we especially hope to attract those displaced by Typhoon Haiyan,” Vassallo said.

“Going to as many cities as possible is very important to the European cultural group, which is keen to reach the four corners of the Philippines. The fact that the Philippines has 7,107 islands doesn't help, but we are doing our best,” he added, strongly alluding to the logistical and technical demands of screening in nine cities with varied theater facilities suitable for a film festival.

The changing family

Vassallo said the European family has changed dramatically, both in demographics and composition.

“Far fewer children means much smaller families. With often both parents working, the dynamics at home have changed. Add to that the number of single-parent families and the number of marriages that break down, and you have a very different picture of the European family from just 50 or 60 years ago,” he said.

However, the senior EU diplomat said that to conclude from this that present European families are weakened and disintegrating is premature and wrong.

“Some of these movies we are presenting tell a different story. They illustrate that while in some senses European families have changed beyond recognition, relationships can be as strong as ever, maybe even stronger,” he said.

“Fewer children means more time for individual attention. There is today a much clearer appreciation and demand for quality time with our children. And when was the last time you heard a parent repeat that horrible old mantra that children should be seen but not heard?” he added.

Lectures

The festival will have an educational section aimed at encouraging young people to consider a career in cinema and to expose Filipino filmmakers to the opportunities for collaboration with their European counterparts.

The section will feature the screening of three recognized Filipino cinematic jewels, to be accompanied by lectures.

On Sept. 12, Filipino film producer and educator Alemberg Ang will moderate a lecture-forum on film appreciation, to be followed by the showing of Maryo de los Reyes' FAMAS award-winning “Magnifico” (2003) at 2 p.m. and Auraeus Solito's Cinemalaya award-winning “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” (2005).

On Sept. 20, a group of cultural officers from Spain, Italy, and France will hold a forum with Filipino filmmakers, to be followed by the 3:30 p.m. screening of Lav Diaz's “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan.”

“Norte” won the Pardo d’Oro at this year's Locarno International Film Festival and the Best Film award at Serbia's Pancevo International Film Fest.

The three films were chosen to point out the similarities between families in the Philippines and European countries.

The educational forums will be held in Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, then at the University of San Carlos in Cebu on Oct. 10.

The 2014 Cine Europa formally opens on Sept. 11 with the 8 p.m. invitational screening of Romania’s “Pozitia Copilului” (Child’s Rose) at Cinema 2 of the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-La Plaza.

Running from September to November this year, Cine Europa is one of the country's longest film festivals, if not the longest.

Participating countries this year are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland.

Admission to Cine Europa 17 is free for all screenings in all locations during the festival. Film details may be extracted from eeas.europa.eu/delegations/philippines.

The Philippines and the European Union

As I wrote already in one of my previous columns: the European Parliament is elected five years by member states' citizens - in 2014 this coming Sunday, May 25.

I agree with EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux saying that the significant increase in the number of European politicial leaders to the Philippines confirms the increasing interest of the European Union in the country. It was interesting to listen Ledoux's speech during the Europe Day reception. Yes, indeed the flow of bilateral visit of ministers from European member states as well as Philippine Cabinet members visiting European countries has been steady.

The increase in the number of visits is no accident, as word of high economic groth and good governance in the Philippines has reached Europe.

Already last June, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario met European Council Prsident van Rompuy in Brussels. And yes, that's the right path to take: the Philippines decided to resolve maritime issues peacefully and within the framework of international law.

And let's keep in mind: the lifting of the air ban for major Philippine air carriers is indeed one of the major achievements in European-Philippines relations.

Tourists in the Philippines is not always a great topic comparing to other Asian countries and their visitors' numbers. Good to know, that the Philippines has recently be named as one of the top 20 destinations for 2014 by an European newspaper. Anyway, European hospitability companies should invest more in the Philippine tourism industry by creating jobs and sharing their experience.

As expatriate living in this wonderful country since 1999, I can only underline Ledoux's statement saying Filipinos are known worldwide for their amazing hospitability because when they have visitors they do make feel them at home. The same thing told me Deputy Head of Mission (Germany Embassy), Mr. Michael Hasper during my last Manila visit.

(Pre-published in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR from Monday, May 19, 2014 in my column "IN MY OPINION".)