1.   Respect for democratic principles and human rights, as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other relevant international human rights instruments to which the Parties are contracting parties, and for the principle of the rule of law, underpins the internal and international policies of both Parties and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.

2.   The Parties confirm their shared values as expressed in the Charter of the United Nations.

3.   The Parties confirm their commitment to promoting sustainable development, cooperating to address the challenges of climate change and to contributing to the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Development Goals.

4.   The Parties reaffirm their attachment to the principle of good governance.

5.   The Parties agree that cooperation under this Agreement will be in accordance with their respective domestic laws, rules and regulations.

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in the promotion and effective protection of all human rights including through international human rights instruments to which they are parties.

2.   Such cooperation will be through activities as mutually agreed upon by the Parties including, inter alia, the following:

1.   The Parties recognise that the most serious crimes of international concern relating to international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity should not go unpunished and that prosecution of these crimes should be ensured by taking measures at either national or international level, as appropriate, including through the International Criminal Court, in accordance with the Parties' respective domestic laws.

2.   The Parties agree to conduct a beneficial dialogue on the universal adherence to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in accordance with their respective laws, including the provision of assistance for capacity-building.

1.   The Parties consider that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, to and by state and non-state actors, constitutes one of the most serious threats to international stability and security.

2.   The Parties therefore agree to cooperate and to contribute to countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery through full compliance with, and national implementation of, their existing obligations under international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements and other relevant international obligations such as UNSC Resolution 1540. The Parties agree that this provision constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.

3.   The Parties furthermore agree to:

The Parties recognise that implementation of export controls should not hamper international cooperation in materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes, while goals of peaceful utilisation should not be used as a cover for proliferation.

4.   The Parties agree to establish a regular political dialogue that will accompany and consolidate these elements. The Parties could also work towards having the dialogue at a regional level.

1.   The Parties recognise that the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW) including their ammunition, and their excessive accumulation, poor management, inadequately secured stockpiles and uncontrolled spread continue to pose a serious threat to peace and international security.

2.   The Parties agree to observe and fully implement their respective obligations to deal with the illicit trade in SALW in all its aspects, under existing international agreements and UNSC Resolutions, as well as their commitments within the framework of other international instruments applicable in this area, such as the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

3.   The Parties undertake to establish a regular political dialogue in order to exchange views and information and develop a common understanding of the issues and problems related to illicit trade in SALW and to strengthen the ability of the Parties to prevent, combat and eradicate such trade.

1.   The Parties reaffirm the importance of preventing and countering terrorism in accordance with their respective legislation and regulations, and with respect for the rule of law, international law, in particular the UN Charter and relevant UNSC Resolutions, human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law and international conventions to which they are parties, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, contained in UN General Assembly Resolution 60/28 of 8 September 2006 as well as the EU-ASEAN Joint Declaration on Cooperation to Combat Terrorism of 28 January 2003.

2.   Toward this end, the Parties agree to cooperate as follows:

1.   The Parties shall engage in a dialogue on bilateral and multilateral trade and trade-related issues with a view to strengthening bilateral trade relations and advancing the role of the multilateral trade system in promoting growth and development.

2.   The Parties undertake to promote the development and diversification of their reciprocal commercial exchanges to the highest possible level and to their mutual benefit. They undertake to achieve improved market access conditions by working towards removing obstacles to trade, in particular non-tariff barriers, and by taking measures to improve transparency, having regard to the work carried out by international organisations in this field.

3.   Recognising that trade plays an indispensable role in development, and that assistance in the form of trade preferences schemes assisted in the development of recipient developing countries, the Parties endeavour to strengthen their consultation on such assistance in full compliance with the WTO.

4.   The Parties shall keep each other informed concerning the development of trade and trade-related policies such as in agriculture, food safety, consumer protection, and the environment, including waste management.

5.   The Parties shall encourage dialogue and cooperation to develop their trade and investment relations and to work towards solving commercial problems, and to address other trade-related concerns in the areas referred to in Articles 13 to 19.

1.   The Parties shall cooperate on food safety and on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues to protect human, animal or plant life or health in the territory of the Parties.

2.   The Parties shall discuss and exchange information on their respective measures as defined in the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), such as legislation, rules and regulations, certification, inspection, and surveillance procedures, including the procedures to approve the establishment and implementation of zoning principles.

3.   The Parties agree to undertake capacity-building cooperation on SPS issues and, where it is requested, on animal welfare.

4.   The Parties shall establish a timely dialogue on SPS issues upon request of either Party to consider matters relating to SPS and other urgent related issues under this Article.

5.   The Parties shall designate contact points for communication on matters under this Article.

1.   The Parties agree that cooperation on standards, technical regulations and conformity assessments is a key objective for the development of trade.

2.   The Parties shall promote the use of international standards and cooperate and exchange information on standards, conformity assessment procedures and technical regulations, especially within the framework of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). To this end, the Parties agree to establish a timely dialogue on TBT issues upon request of either Party and designate contact points for communication on matters under this Article.

3.   Cooperation on TBT may be undertaken, inter alia, through dialogue, joint projects, technical assistance and capacity-building programmes.

1.   The Parties shall share experiences and examine possibilities for simplifying import, export and other customs procedures, ensure transparency of customs and trade regulations, develop customs cooperation and effective mutual administrative assistance mechanisms, and also seek convergence of views and joint action in the context of relevant international initiatives including trade facilitation. The Parties will pay special attention to increasing the security and safety dimension of international trade, to ensuring an effective and efficient customs enforcement of intellectual property rights, and to ensuring a balanced approach between trade facilitation, and the fight against fraud and irregularities.

2.   Without prejudice to other forms of cooperation provided for under this Agreement, the Parties state their interest in considering the conclusion of protocols on customs cooperation, and on mutual assistance, within the institutional framework laid down in this Agreement.

3.   The Parties shall continue to mobilise technical assistance resources to support the implementation of cooperation in customs matters and of trade facilitation under this Agreement, as mutually agreed.

1.   The Parties shall promote the establishment and maintenance of competition rules and authorities to implement them. They shall promote the application of these rules in an effective, non-discriminatory and transparent way in order to foster legal certainty in their respective territories.

2.   To this end, the Parties will engage in capacity-building activities in the area of competition policy subject to the availability of funding for such activities under the Parties' cooperation instruments and programmes.

1.   The Parties agree to have a consistent dialogue notably aimed at exchanging information on their respective regulatory environments, promoting access to each other's markets, including e-commerce, promoting access to sources of capital and technology, and promoting trade in services between the Parties and in third country markets.

2.   Acknowledging the competitiveness of their respective services sector, the Parties shall undertake discussions on exploiting opportunities in trade in services of each others' markets.

1.   The Parties reaffirm the great importance they attach to the protection of intellectual property rights and undertake to establish appropriate measures with a view to ensuring the adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights while ensuring that such measures are in accordance with the best practices and international standards to which the Parties are committed.

2.   The Parties shall assist each other in identifying and implementing IP-related programmes that will contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the voluntary technology transfer and human resource training, and shall cooperate in the implementation of the Development Agenda of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

3.   The Parties agree to enhance cooperation on Geographical Indications, including on their protection, and in the area of protection of plant varieties, bearing in mind among others, and where appropriate, the role of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

4.   The Parties shall exchange information and experience on intellectual property practices, the prevention of infringements of IP rights — in particular the fight against counterfeiting and piracy — namely through customs cooperation and other appropriate forms of cooperation, and the establishment and strengthening of organisations for the control and protection of such rights.

1.   The Parties recognise the particular importance of rule of law and the reinforcement of all relevant institutions.

2.   Cooperation between the Parties may also include mutual exchange of information concerning best practices on legal systems and legislation.

1.   The Parties shall cooperate to ensure a balanced approach through effective coordination between the competent authorities including from the lead drug enforcement agency, health, justice, education, youth, social welfare, customs and interior sectors, and other relevant sectors and other affected stakeholders, with the aim of reducing the supply of and demand for illicit drugs, as well as their impact on drug users and their families and society at large, and to achieve more effective precursor control.

2.   The Parties shall agree on the means of cooperation to attain these objectives. Actions shall be based on commonly agreed principles along the lines of the relevant international conventions to which they are parties, the Political Declaration and the Declaration on the guiding principles of drug demand reduction, adopted by the 20th UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs in June 1998 and the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem adopted at the High Level Segment of the 52nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2009.

3.   The cooperation between the Parties shall comprise technical and administrative assistance in particular in the following areas:

1.   The Parties agree on the need to work towards, and to cooperate in, the prevention of the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities such as drug trafficking and corruption.

2.   Both Parties agree to promote legal, technical and administrative assistance aimed at the development and implementation of regulations and the efficient functioning of mechanisms to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. In particular, cooperation shall allow exchanges of relevant information within the framework of respective legislations and the adoption of appropriate standards to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism equivalent to those adopted by the Union and the international bodies active in this area, such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

3.   Both Parties shall promote cooperation in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, e.g. through the conduct of capacity-building projects.

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in combating organised crime and corruption as defined in the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementary Protocols and the UN Convention against Corruption. Such cooperation aims to promote and implement these conventions and other applicable instruments to which they are party.

2.   Subject to available resources, this cooperation shall include capacity-building measures and projects.

3.   The Parties agree to cooperate among law enforcement authorities, agencies and services and to contribute to disrupting and dismantling transnational crime threats common to the Parties within the framework of their respective legislations. The cooperation among law enforcement authorities, agencies and services may take the form of mutual assistance in investigations, the sharing of investigational techniques, joint education and training of law enforcement personnel and any other type of joint activities and assistance, including the existing Interpol National Central Bureaus through the Interpol Global Police Communications System (I-24/7) or a similar system for information exchange, as may be mutually agreed by the Parties.

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in order to improve the level of protection of personal data to the highest international standards, such as those contained, inter alia, in the Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution 45/95 of 14 December 1990.

2.   Strengthening data protection by intensifying cooperation on the protection of personal data may include, inter alia, technical assistance in the form of exchange of information and expertise which may include, but not be limited to the following:

1.   The Parties reaffirm the importance of the joint management of migratory flows between their territories. With a view to strengthening cooperation, the Parties shall establish a mechanism for comprehensive dialogue and consultation on all migration-related issues. Migration concerns shall be included in the national strategies/national development framework for economic and social development of countries of origin, transit and destination of migrants.

2.   Cooperation between the Parties shall be based on a specific needs-assessment conducted in mutual consultation and agreement between the Parties and be implemented in accordance with the relevant Union and national legislation in force. It will, in particular, focus on:

3.   Within the framework of cooperation in this area and without prejudice to the need to protect victims of human trafficking, the Parties further agree that:

Where the person concerned does not possess any appropriate identity documents or other proof of his/her nationality, the competent diplomatic or consular representation concerned shall be immediately requested by the Philippines or Member State to ascertain his/her nationality, if needed by means of an interview; and once ascertained to be a national of the Philippines or Member State, appropriate documents shall be issued by the competent Philippine or Member State authorities.

4.   The Parties agree to conclude as soon as possible an agreement for the admission/readmission of their nationals, including a provision on the readmission of nationals of other countries and stateless persons.

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in the field of maritime labour to promote and uphold decent living and working conditions for seafarers, seafarers' personal safety and protection, occupational safety and health policies and programmes.

2.   The Parties furthermore agree to cooperate in the field of maritime education, training and certification of seafarers in order to ensure safe and efficient maritime operations and prevention of damage to the environment; including upgrading crew competences to adapt to the changing requirements of the shipping industry and technological progress.

3.   The Parties shall respect and observe the principles and provisions stipulated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea particularly referring to the duties and obligations of each Party with regard to labour conditions, crewing and social matters on ships that fly its flag; the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), as amended, with regard to seafarer training and competency requirements; and principles and provisions provided in relevant international instruments to which they are parties.

4.   Cooperation in this area shall be based on mutual consultation and dialogue between the Parties, with a focus, inter alia, on:

1.   The Parties agree to enhance cooperation in the field of employment and social affairs, including cooperation in regional and social cohesion, with reference to Article 26(2)(b), health and safety at the workplace, skills development, gender equality and decent work, with a view to strengthening the social dimension of globalisation.

2.   The Parties reaffirm the need to support the process of globalisation which is beneficial to all and to promote full and productive employment and decent work as a key element of sustainable development and poverty reduction, as endorsed by UN General Assembly Resolution 60/1 of 24 October 2005 (2005 World Summit Outcome) and the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the UN Economic and Social Council of July 2006 (UN Economic and Social Council E/2006/L.8 of 5 July 2006). The Parties shall take into account the respective characteristics and diverse nature of their economic and social situations.

3.   Reaffirming their commitments to respect, promote and realise internationally recognised labour and social standards, as referred to in particular in the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the ILO conventions to which they are party, the Parties agree to cooperate on specific technical assistance programmes and projects, as mutually agreed. The Parties likewise agree to undertake dialogue, cooperation and initiatives on topics of common interest at bilateral or multilateral level, such as at UN, IOM, ILO, ASEM and EU-ASEAN level.

1.   The primary goal of development cooperation is to encourage sustainable development that will contribute to the reduction of poverty and to the attainment of internationally agreed development goals including the Millennium Development Goals. The Parties shall engage in regular dialogue on development cooperation in line with their respective priorities and areas of mutual interest.

2.   The development cooperation dialogue shall aim at, inter alia:

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in promoting the exchange of information on their respective economic trends and policies, and the sharing of experience in coordinating economic policies in the context of regional economic cooperation and integration.

2.   The Parties endeavour to deepen the dialogue between their authorities on economic matters which, as agreed by the Parties, may include areas such as monetary policy, fiscal policy, including business taxation, public finance, and macroeconomic stabilisation and external debt.

1.   The Parties agree to increase cooperation on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in the continuous development and implementation of measures to reduce the risk to communities and manage the consequences of natural disasters across all levels of society. Emphasis should be placed on preventive action and proactive approaches to deal with hazards and risks and to reduce risks or vulnerabilities to natural disasters.

2.   The Parties shall work together to make DRM an integral part of development plans and policy-making processes relative to natural disaster events.

3.   Cooperation in this area shall focus on the following programme elements:

1.   The Parties shall endeavour to enhance cooperation in the energy sector with a view to:

2.   To these ends, the Parties agree to promote contacts and joint research for the mutual benefit of the Parties, particularly through relevant regional and international frameworks. With reference to Article 34 and the conclusions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which took place in Johannesburg in 2002, the Parties underscore the need to address the links between affordable access to energy services and sustainable development. These activities can be promoted in cooperation with the European Union Energy Initiative, launched at the WSSD.

3.   The Parties, in keeping with their commitments as parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to address climate change, agree to promote technical cooperation and private-partnerships, in sustainable and renewable energy, fuel-switch and energy efficiency projects through flexible market-based mechanisms, such as the carbon market mechanism.

1.   The Parties agree that cooperation in this area shall promote the conservation and improvement of the environment in pursuit of sustainable development. The implementation of the outcome of the WSSD and of relevant multilateral environmental agreements to which they are parties shall be taken into account in all activities undertaken by the Parties under this Agreement.

2.   The Parties agree on the need to conserve and manage in a sustainable manner natural resources and biological diversity for the benefit of all generations taking into account their developmental needs.

3.   The Parties agree to cooperate with a view to enhancing the mutual support for trade and environment policies, and the integration of environmental considerations into all sectors of cooperation.

4.   The Parties endeavour to continue and strengthen their cooperation in regional programmes on protection of the environment, as regards:

5.   The Parties shall encourage mutual access to their programmes in this field, in accordance with the specific terms of such programmes.

1.   The Parties shall promote mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation in the field of regional policy.

2.   The Parties shall encourage and strengthen the exchange of information and cooperation on regional policy, with special emphasis on the development of disadvantaged areas, urban-rural linkages and rural development.

3.   Cooperation in regional policy may take the following forms:

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in relevant areas of transport policy with a view to improving investment opportunities and the movement of goods and passengers, promoting maritime and aviation safety and security, addressing the environmental impact of transport and increasing the efficiency of their transport systems.

2.   Cooperation between the Parties in this area shall aim to promote:

1.   The Parties agree to cooperate in the field of science and technology taking into account their respective policy objectives.

2.   The aims of such cooperation shall be to:

3.   Cooperation shall take the form of joint research projects and exchanges, meetings and training of researchers through international training and mobility schemes and exchange programmes, providing for the maximum dissemination of the results of research, learning and best practices. Other modes of cooperation may be mutually agreed upon.

4.   These cooperation activities should be based on the principles of reciprocity, fair treatment and mutual benefits and ensure an adequate protection of intellectual property. Any intellectual property rights issues that may arise in the context of cooperation under this Agreement may, where necessary, be the subject of negotiations between the relevant agencies or groups involved prior to the commencement of cooperative activities and may include issues of copyright, trademark and patents in consideration of the Parties' respective laws and regulations.

5.   The Parties shall encourage the participation of their respective higher education institutions, research centres, and productive sectors including SMEs.

6.   The Parties agree to make all efforts to increase public awareness about possibilities offered by their respective programmes for science and technology cooperation.

1.   Recognising that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a key element of modern life and of vital importance to economic and social development, the Parties endeavour to exchange views on their respective policies in this field with a view to promoting economic development.

2.   Cooperation in this area shall, inter alia, focus on:

1.   Guided by the World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and by the sustainability principles which are at the basis of the Local Agenda 21 process, the Parties shall aim to improve the exchange of information and establish best practice in order to ensure a balanced and sustainable development of tourism.

2.   Both Parties agree to undertake a dialogue with the aim of facilitating cooperation, including technical assistance, in the areas of human resources training and development of new technology for destinations in accordance with sustainable tourism principles.

3.   The Parties agree to develop cooperation on safeguarding and maximising the potential of natural and cultural heritage, mitigating any adverse impact of tourism and enhancing the positive contribution of the tourism business to the sustainable development of local communities, inter alia, by developing eco-tourism, while respecting the integrity and interests of local and indigenous communities, and improving training in the tourism industry.

1.   The Parties agree to strengthen cooperation with a view to achieving closer common rules and standards, and improving accounting, auditing, supervisory, and regulatory systems of banking, insurance, and other areas of the financial sector.

2.   The Parties recognise the importance of technical assistance and capacity-building measures to this end.

1.   With a view to strengthening and developing economic activities while taking into account the need to develop an appropriate regulatory framework, the Parties recognise and will implement the principles of good governance in the tax area. To that effect, and in accordance with their respective competences, the Parties will improve international cooperation in the tax area, facilitate the collection of legitimate tax revenues, and develop measures for the effective implementation of the abovementioned principles.

2.   The Parties agree that the implementation of these principles takes place notably within the framework of existing or future bilateral tax agreements between the Philippines and Member States.

1.   The Parties recognise and affirm the utmost importance of health. Therefore, the Parties agree to cooperate in the health sector covering areas such as health system reform, major communicable diseases and other health threats, non-communicable diseases, and international health agreements towards the improvement of health and the sustainable development of the health sector on the basis of mutual benefits.

2.   Cooperation shall take place through:

1.   The Parties agree to promote education, sports, cultural and interfaith cooperation that duly respects their diversity in order to increase mutual understanding and the knowledge of their respective cultures. To this end, the Parties will support and promote the activities of their cultural institutes.

2.   The Parties further agree to start a dialogue on matters of mutual interest relating to the modernisation of education systems, including matters pertaining to core competencies and development of assessment instruments benchmarked with European standards.

3.   The Parties endeavour to take appropriate measures to promote people-to-people contacts in the area of education, sports and cultural exchanges, and interfaith and intercultural dialogues and carry out joint initiatives in various socio-cultural spheres, including cooperation in heritage conservation with respect to cultural diversity. In this regard, the Parties also agree to continue supporting the activities of the Asia-Europe Foundation, as well as the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue.

4.   The Parties agree to consult and cooperate in relevant international fora or organisations, such as Unesco, in order to pursue common objectives and promote greater understanding and respect for cultural diversity. In this regard, the Parties also agree to promote the ratification and implementation of the Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted on 20 October 2005.

5.   The Parties shall furthermore place emphasis on adopting measures designed to strengthen links between their respective relevant agencies promoting the exchange of information and know-how among experts, youth and youth workers (in and out-of-school), and taking advantage of their respective programmes such as Erasmus Mundus in the areas of education and culture as well as the experiences that both Parties have acquired in these areas.

1.   The Parties agree to establish under this Agreement a Joint Committee, composed of representatives of both sides at senior official level, charged with:

2.   The Joint Committee shall normally meet not less than every two years in the Philippines and the European Union alternately on a date to be fixed by mutual agreement. Extraordinary meetings of the Joint Committee may also be convened by agreement between the Parties. The Joint Committee shall be chaired alternately by each of the Parties. The agenda for meetings of the Joint Committee shall be determined by agreement between the Parties.

3.   The Joint Committee shall establish specialised subcommittees to deal with all areas covered by this Agreement in order to assist it in the performance of its tasks. These subcommittees shall make detailed reports on their activities to the Joint Committee at each of its meetings.

4.   The Parties agree that it shall also be the task of the Joint Committee to oversee the proper functioning of any sectoral agreement or protocol concluded or to be concluded between the Parties.

5.   The Joint Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

1.   The Parties may, by mutual consent and on recommendation of the Joint Committee, expand this Agreement with a view to enhancing the level of cooperation, including by supplementing it by means of agreements or protocols on specific sectors or activities.

2.   With regard to the implementation of this Agreement, either of the Parties may put forward suggestions for widening the scope of cooperation, taking into account the experience gained in its application.

1.   The Parties agree to make available the appropriate resources, including financial means, insofar as their respective resources and regulations allow, in order to fulfil the cooperation objectives set out in this Agreement.

2.   The Parties shall implement financial assistance in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and cooperate in the protection of their financial interests. The Parties shall take effective measures to prevent and fight fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, inter alia, by means of mutual assistance in the fields covered by this Agreement in accordance with their respective laws and regulations. Any further agreement or financing instrument to be concluded between the Parties shall provide for specific financial cooperation clauses covering on-the-spot checks, inspections, controls, and anti-fraud measures, including, inter alia, those conducted by the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) and the relevant Philippine investigative authorities.

3.   The Parties shall encourage the European Investment Bank (EIB) to continue its operations in the Philippines in accordance with its procedures and financing criteria, the framework agreement signed between the EIB and the Philippines and with Philippine domestic laws.

4.   The Parties may decide to extend financial support to cooperation activities in the areas covered by this Agreement or in relation to it in accordance with their respective financial procedures and resources. These cooperation activities may include, as appropriate, but not be limited to, capacity-building and technical cooperation initiatives, the exchange of experts, the conduct of studies, the establishment of legal, enforcement and regulatory frameworks that promote transparency and accountability, and other activities agreed by the Parties.

1.   Without prejudice to the relevant provisions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, neither this Agreement nor action taken hereunder shall affect the powers of the Parties to undertake bilateral cooperation activities or to conclude, where appropriate, new partnership and cooperation agreements including between the Philippines and the individual Member States.

2.   This Agreement shall not affect the application or implementation of commitments undertaken or to be undertaken by the respective Parties in relations with third parties.

1.   The Parties shall take any general or specific measures required to fulfil their obligations under this Agreement. They shall see to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are attained.

2.   Each Party may refer to the Joint Committee any divergence in the application or interpretation of this Agreement.

3.   If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil any of its obligations under this Agreement, it may take appropriate measures. Before doing so, except in cases of special urgency in accordance with paragraph 5 of this Article, it shall present to the Joint Committee all the relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties.

4.   In the selection of measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of this Agreement. These measures shall be notified immediately to the other Party and shall be the subject of consultations within the Joint Committee if the other Party so requests.

5.   The Parties agree, for the purposes of the correct interpretation and practical application of this Agreement, that the term ‘cases of special urgency’ in paragraph 3 of this Article means a case of a material breach of this Agreement by one of the Parties. A material breach of this Agreement consists of:

Prior to the application of measures in the cases of special urgency, either Party may request that an urgent meeting be called to bring the Parties together. In the event of such a request and within 15 days, unless the Parties agree on another time period not exceeding 21 days, a meeting shall be held to examine thoroughly the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties.

1.   This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the last Party has notified the other of the completion of the legal procedures necessary for this purpose.

2.   This Agreement is valid for a period of five years. It shall be automatically extended for further successive periods of one year, unless either Party notifies the other Party in writing of its intention not to extend this Agreement six months prior to the end of any subsequent one-year period.

3.   Any amendments to this Agreement shall be made by agreement between the Parties. Any amendments shall enter into force according to paragraph 1 of this Article only after the last Party has notified the other that all necessary formalities have been completed.

4.   This Agreement may be terminated by one Party by written notice of its desire to terminate this Agreement given to the other Party. The termination shall take effect six months after receipt of notification by the other Party. Termination shall not affect agreed or ongoing projects commenced under this Agreement prior to termination.

1.   This Agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

2.   The Agreement was negotiated in English. Any linguistic divergence in the texts shall be referred to the Joint Committee.