“I am delighted that my first visit to Europe in Brussels, which has the seals of the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union, is a success and I can see the outcomes of this visit will generate opportunities for the benefit of the Filipino people.”
Thus did President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sum up upon his return the outcome of his first trip to Europe as the country’s leader.
He reported that some P9.8 billion in fresh investments had been pledged by Unilever and other leading European firms. These would translate into hundreds of new jobs as well as expanded business and trade opportunities.
He also met with King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels, as well as with leaders from the European Commission, Estonia, Sweden, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Addressing the ASEAN-EU commemorative summit, the President urged consideration of a free trade agreement between the Philippines and the European Union to rev up economic recovery and cushion the harsh impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also raised anew the importance of upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) amid the maritime disputes in the South China Sea. Moreover, he called attention to the imperative need to address climate change repercussions on climate vulnerable countries like the Philippines.
One of his most significant meetings was with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He asked that the country be given sufficient opportunity to address the continuing concerns raised by the European Maritime Safety Administration (EMSA) on Filipino seafarers’ compliance with Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) requirements.
The EMSA as well as the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have, in the past, repeatedly deplored what they describe as substandard maritime training received by Filipino seafarers. The Philippine government is now working closely with the business sector to ensure that these concerns are addressed adequately so that the country could maintain its position as the leading source of global seafarers, a distinction it has enjoyed over the past decades.
According to President Marcos, President von der Leyen promised that the European Commission itself will provide technical assistance to enable the country to get the EMSA’s seal of approval.
Over and above what he has achieved through top-level diplomacy, President Marcos also won the admiration of other heads of state as he soldiered on through the hectic pace of day-long meetings despite nursing a cold and a sore throat condition. Indeed, the demands of summitry could challenge and impair the health of presidents and prime ministers.
Nearing the completion of the first half of his first year in office, President Marcos could look back on having established his presence as a credible and competent leader in the global community.