Joint ReleaseGlobal Gateway Forum: EU and Philippines sign €60 million Green Economy Programme paving the way to a sustainable future

The EU has long been a key supporter of the Philippines especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. The EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, ratified in January 2018, lays the foundation for deeper collaboration.

Global Gateway is the EU’s overarching cooperation framework to deliver sustainable investments accompanying the Philippines’ transition to a green and digital economy . As part of this initiative, the first Copernicus programme on earth observation in South-East Asia was launched in April 2023 (€10 million). Additionally, the EU is supporting the Philippines in becoming a regional digital hub through the Digital Economy Package (€ 20 million) and a Digital Connectivity Team Europe Initiative with the aim of bringing secure and reliable connections to the country.

On top of that, the EU is examining the potential for a free trade agreement (FTA), which could generate significant growth and job opportunities, as well as diversify and fortify supply chains. The EU is also eager to collaborate on projects aimed at developing the Philippines’ local mining industry, supporting communities, and ensuring a secure global supply of critical raw materials.

Earlier this year, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. from the Philippines, took a very important step by launching the Team Europe Initiative on Green Economy under Global Gateway (€466 million).

The relationship between the EU and the Philippines has reached new heights, marked by a significant milestone that solidifies their commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges. Today, at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, the EU and the Philippines signed the €60 million Financing Agreement for the Green Economy Programme.

This programme, a key part of the EU’s contribution to the Team Europe Initiative on Green Economy, aims to assist the Philippines in transitioning towards a sustainable economy. This includes embracing the circular economy, reducing waste and plastic usage, ensuring water supply and wastewater treatment, promoting energy efficiency, and deploying renewable energy to address the impacts of the