BETA

Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage



2015/2234(INI) EU/Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
Next event: Debate in plenary scheduled 2016/06/07 more...
RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET BROK Elmar (EPP) BETTINI Goffredo Maria (S&D), TANNOCK Charles (ECR), KYUCHYUK Ilhan (ALDE), HADJIGEORGIOU Takis (GUE/NGL), BÜTIKOFER Reinhard (Verts/ALE)
Lead committee dossier: AFET/8/04406
Legal Basis RoP 099-p1

Activites

  • 2016/06/08 Vote in plenary scheduled
  • 2016/06/07 Debate in plenary scheduled
  • 2016/04/21 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • 2016/04/19 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading

Documents

  • Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A8-0143/2016
AmendmentsDossier
88 2015/2234(INI)
2016/02/29 AFET 88 amendments...
source: 577.014

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

activities/1/docs/0/text
  • he Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Elmar BROK (EPP, DE) containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of the Philippines, of the other part.

    Members recalled that in terms of international and national human rights legislation, the Philippines are a role model for other countries in the region, having ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 2011. They also recalled that the EU is the Philippines' fourth largest trading partner and fourth largest export market, accounting for 11.56 % of all Philippine exports.

    Whilst welcoming the conclusion of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation with the Philippines, Members called on the EU to continue providing financial support and capacity-building assistance to the Philippines for poverty alleviation and the implementation of policies to tackle climate change.

    At the same time, they called on the Philippines to foster further progress in the elimination of corruption and the promotion of human rights.

    Fight against terrorism: Members commended the Philippines for having been part of the international counterterrorism coalition since 200, but expressed concern over the continued reports of severe human rights violations by the Philippine military in the conduct of counter-insurgency measures. They pointed out that the Abu Sayyaf group is accused of carrying out the worst acts of terrorism committed in the Philippines, including deadly bombings such as the attack on a ferry in Manila in 2004 in which more than 100 people were killed.

    They also stressed that there are growing concerns that ISIS will win over affiliated groups in South-East Asia. At the same time, they condemned the massacre of 24 December 2015 of Christian farmers by separatist rebels in Mindanao.

    Human trafficking: the committee called on the EU and its Member States to support the government, and notably the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT), in the efforts being made to enhance assistance and support for victims, to put into place efficient law enforcement measures, and improve the legal avenues of work labour migration. The EU and its Member States were asked to engage with the Philippines and provide support for the government's capacity- building.

    South China Sea: Members noted that the Philippines are strategically located in the proximity of major international shipping and air traffic routes in the South China Sea. They recalled their serious concerns over the tension in the South China Sea. Members were particularly concerned at the massive scale of China’s current activities in the area, including building military facilities, ports, and at least one airstrip. They urged all parties in the disputed area to refrain from unilateral and provocative actions and to resolve the disputes peacefully. Members supported all steps that will enable the South China Sea to become a ‘sea of peace and cooperation ‘and all endeavours to ensure that the parties agree on a code of conduct for the peaceful exploitation of the maritime areas in question.

    GSP+: the committee called on the Philippines, as one of the countries having been granted GSP+ status by the EU, to ensure effective implementation of all the core international conventions relating to human and labour rights, the environment and good governance. Recognising that the Philippines have strengthened their human rights legislation, Members recalled that under the GSP+ beneficiaries will have to prove that they are implementing their obligations concerning human rights, labour, environmental and governance standards. They took note of the GSP+ country assessment of the Philippines, particularly as regards the ratification of all seven UN human rights conventions relevant to the EU's GSP+. However, they highlighted the work that still needs to be done for implementation.

    Free Trade Agreement: Members welcomed the agreement of 22 December 2015 to open negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the Philippines, and recalled, at the same time, that the Commission and the Philippine authorities should ensure high standards on human rights, labour and the environment. Such an FTA should serve as a building block towards a region-to-region EU-ASEAN agreement on trade and investment.

    Filipino seamen: Members took note that 800 000 Filipinos are living in the EU and that Filipino seamen working on EU-registered ships send remittances to the Philippines amounting to EUR 3 billion per annum. They recalled that the majority of the crew on many non-Community flagged vessels calling at European ports are Filipino and noted as well the harsh and inhuman working conditions in which many of these seafarers live. They called on Member States not to allow these vessels to be received in European ports when the working conditions on board contravene the labour rights and principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Lastly, they wanted non-Community flagged vessels to guarantee their crews’ working conditions in accordance with international legislation and the rules laid down by the ILO and the International Maritime Organisation.

activities/2/type
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
New
Debate in plenary scheduled
activities/3
date
2016-06-08T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in plenary scheduled
activities/1/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2016-0143&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A8-0143/2016
activities/1
date
2016-04-21T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
activities/0
date
2016-04-19T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
committees
body: EP shadows: group: S&D name: BETTINI Goffredo Maria group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles group: ALDE name: KYUCHYUK Ilhan group: GUE/NGL name: HADJIGEORGIOU Takis group: Verts/ALE name: BÜTIKOFER Reinhard responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2015-06-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: BROK Elmar
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
committees/0/shadows/0/mepref
Old
53b2d77ab819f205b000001c
New
53b2d788b819f205b000001e
committees/0/shadows/0/name
Old
BENIFEI Brando
New
BETTINI Goffredo Maria
committees/0/shadows/1
group
ECR
name
TANNOCK Charles
committees/0/shadows/2
group
ALDE
name
KYUCHYUK Ilhan
committees/0/shadows/3
group
GUE/NGL
name
HADJIGEORGIOU Takis
committees/0/shadows/4
group
Verts/ALE
name
BÜTIKOFER Reinhard
activities/0/date
Old
2016-05-10T00:00:00
New
2016-06-07T00:00:00
activities/0/date
Old
2016-03-09T00:00:00
New
2016-05-10T00:00:00
activities/0/date
Old
2016-01-18T00:00:00
New
2016-03-09T00:00:00
activities
  • date: 2016-01-18T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
committees
  • body: EP shadows: group: S&D name: BENIFEI Brando responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2015-06-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: BROK Elmar
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade commissioner: MALMSTRÖM Cecilia
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
AFET/8/04406
geographical_area
Philippines
reference
2015/2234(INI)
title
EU/Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
legal_basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 099-p1
stage_reached
Awaiting committee decision
summary
See also
type
INI - Own-initiative procedure
subject