EU still open to aid for Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the government’s repeated rejection of its development assistance, the European Union remains open to providing aid to the Philippines, EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said yesterday.

“We have not closed any doors,” Jessen said. 

Last month, the government formally rejected the EU-Philippine Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) worth 6.1 million euros or around P383.64 million.

President Duterte has repeatedly slammed the EU for supposedly meddling in his war against drugs, which has killed thousands. 

“We expect, at the end of the day, to continue much of our development assistance,” Jessen said, noting that a delegation from Brussels is headed to Manila.

The envoy said the EU could work “directly” with government agencies and on a “case by case” basis even without the TRTA.

“We will be pleased to continue the work we are doing in the past,” he said.

The Philippines also recently rejected EU’s P2.5 billion (39 million euros) worth of sustainable energy projects in Mindanao.

However, the Philippines will keep its zero tariff privileges for certain exports under the bloc’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), the EU said last week.

The Philippines is among nine countries that qualify for the EU’s GSP+, which removes tariffs on 66 percent of products as long as they commit to international agreements on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

Philippine shipments worth an estimated P120 billion ($2.35 billion) to EU will carry no duties, the European Commission said.

The EU is the Philippines’ second top export destination.