EU despite repeated rejection of aid by PH: “We have not closed any doors”

The European Union is not closing its doors for the Philippines.

The Duterte administration has recently rejected an European Union Trade Related Technical Assistance  (TRTA) worth 6.1 million euros  or around P382 million.

And just this week President Rodrigo Roa Duterte turned down the invitation sent to him by the European Union to attend the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM12) in Brussels, Belgium in October of this year. *

EU Ambassador  to the Philippines Franz Jessen (photo credit to Philstar)


 

Of all this that is happening , the European Union remains open to providing aid to the Philippines.

“We have not closed any doors,” EU Ambassador  to the Philippines Franz Jessen.

It should be noted that the present administration have been critically criticized by EU for the implementation of its war on illegal drugs campaign, which the had resulted allegedly to the killing of thousands. The President views this criticism as meddling in a purely Philippine matter, which the EU should respect.

“We expect, at the end of the day, to continue much of our development assistance,” Jessen said, noting that a delegation from Brussels is headed to Manila.

The envoy said the EU could work “directly” with government agencies and on a “case by case” basis even without the TRTA.

The Philippines also recently rejected another European Union aid worth 39 million euros or around P2.5 Billion which supposedly for sustainable energy projects in the island of Mindanao.

However, Philippine trade official announced recently that the country was able to retain its its zero tariff privileges for certain exports under the bloc’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

Along with nine other countries, the Philippines enjoys EU’s GSP+ status, which removes tariffs on 66 percent of products as long as they commit to international agreements on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.  *

It is estimated that the Philippines will export P120 billion ( $2.35 billion) to EU which will carry no duties.

The EU is the Philippines second top export destination.

 

Report from  Philstar