EU-Philippines trade relations

18.12.2023

Question for written answer  E-003703/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Miguel Urbán Crespo (The Left)

On her latest visit to the Philippines, Ursula von der Leyen announced that trade talks between the EU and the Philippines would resume. She ignored the fact that, while the rhetoric has changed, the abuses seen under former President Duterte’s term of office (including extrajudicial killings linked to the misnamed ‘war on drugs’ and cases of ‘red tagging’) and impunity persist under the Marcos administration.

• 1.Will the Commission set human rights conditions before officially resuming trade negotiations? If so, what will those conditions be?
• 2.Why has the Commission refrained from withdrawing GSP+ preferences despite serious breaches by the Philippine Government and its failure to comply with human rights obligations under the GSP+ scheme?

Submitted:18.12.2023