His Excellency Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III presented his views on Philippine relations with the EU. This year, the Philippines and the European Union celebrate the 50^th anniversary of their bilateral relations.  These ties have matured over the last half century, from an almost exclusive focus on development aid in the late 1960s and early 1970s, to a robust, comprehensive and strategic cooperation on issues of common concern in the last two decades.

The visit to Brussels by President Aquino in September 2014 is especially significant because of the 50^th anniversary of the bilateral ties, and in view of several recent milestones in the relationship, including the signing of the their Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), one of the first agreements of its kind signed after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

The President spoke of his vision for the future of Philippines-EU relations, including cooperation on critical issues of the day, such as inclusive growth, good governance and maritime security.

View the programme here.

Read the speech of the President here

(Photo credit: Embassy of the Philippines)