RP, EU end 4th round of talks for trade pact

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the European Union (EU) have made a great deal of progress during the fourth round of negotiations on most trade issues in the proposed Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that will serve as the general framework of relations between the Manila and the EU.

The two parties completed on Friday the fourth round of negotiations for the proposed trade agreement.

They agreed on the general principles of trade and investment, competition policy, and science and technology.

There was general agreement on combating illicit drugs, employment and social affairs, data protection, education, culture and intercultural and interfaith dialogue, development cooperation, statistics, and small arms and light weapons.

The proposed pact will elevate the relationship between the two by increasing interaction at various levels, including government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people exchanges.

James Moran, director for Asia in the EC’s External Relations Department, said “this fourth round of PCA negotiations has made a great deal of progress, reflecting the shared intention of both the EU and the Philippines to strengthen our relations through the intensified cooperation which the PCA will make possible.”

Foreign Affairs Undersecretaries Enrique Manalo and Edsel Custodio expressed optimism that the RP-EU PCA would not only strengthen the traditional links between the Philippines and the EU but also enhance cooperation in various fields on the basis of mutual benefit.

Both parties resolved to continue working to reach convergence on the remaining articles at the next round of negotiations envisaged for March 2010 in Brussels.

The Philippines and the EC shared the view that the proposed PCA would provide a new framework which would deepen existing relations and open new avenues for collaboration. –Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)