Philippines rejects EU grants 拒绝“干涉”内政 菲律宾不再要欧盟经济援
Searched some articles to learn that how the ignorant European Union after successfully ruined their own, but still in hardly trying to ruin other countries.
TO assert the country’s independence, the Philippines will no longer accept aid from the European Union (EU), Malacañang said on Thursday.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said this new policy will keep the EU out of the affairs of the Philippine government.
“We’re supposed to be an independent nation,” Medialdea said in a text message sent to reporters.
The EU delegation in Manila has been informed of the new policy that puts at stake 250 million euros ($278.7 million) in grants. A big chunk of the money was allocated to Muslim communities in Mindanao.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Department of Finance (DoF) to reject new EU grants that “may allow it to interfere with the internal policies of the Philippines.”
“The Philippines reserves the right to accept loans and grants that help attain its objectives of promoting economic development inclusiveness and reducing poverty, attaining peace within its borders and with its neighbors, and fostering a law-abiding society,” Abella told reporters.
“It also reserves the right to respectfully decline offers that do not achieve these goals and offers that allow foreigners to interfere with the conduct of its internal affairs,” he added.
Abella said the rejection of financial assistance from EU would be done on a “case to case basis” and that each situation would be “dealt with separately.” However, humanitarian aid for victims of calamities may still be accepted as long as it is “unconditional.”
The EU will not appeal the decision or convince Duterte to change his mind, an official said.
“I don’t think EU people here in the Philippines will do that, asking the President to reconsider his decision.
What has been junked are aids but our business will continue,” the EU official who asked not to be named said.
The EU is the Philippines’ eighth biggest source of aid, with assistance last year worth $217 million, according to government data.
The EU has been critical of the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs and has condemned the extrajudicial killings. It also called on Duterte to release Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on a drug-related complaint.
The bloc had warned that it may remove the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) or the full removal of tariffs on two-thirds of all product categories if it sees no “substantive improvement in the next few months” in the Philippines.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the country does not want to lose the GSP+ trade agreement with EU, stressing that it is mutually beneficial.
“GSP+ provides better market access to our exporters but it allows cheaper products for EU consumers or cheap inputs for their manufacturers. EU investors in the country exports back to EU also benefit from the GSP+. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he added.
Unwelcome
Socioeconomic Planning secretary Ernesto Pernia however said the government may retract the decision.
“I will not take that as a policy. It is more of a reaction to criticisms. To me, on face value, it appears kind of unwelcome or not a good move but perhaps, I don’t think it’s going to remain as such,” Pernia told reporters.
Some senators and economists believe that the Philippines can make do without EU grants, although it will affect trade and beneficiaries.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the Philippines can afford to lose P13 billion worth of grants.
“It is my opinion that the loss of P13 billion in foreign aid from the EU is a price the Philippines can afford to pay in pursuit of truly independent foreign and economic policies,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs.
The senator however expressed belief that the decision does not mean that the Philippines will abandon the economic ties it has built with EU over the years.
“The Philippines will always be willing to build meaningful trade relations with any State or regional organization that is willing to deal with us in good faith, as peers and equals,” he added.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan stressed the need for government to ensure that all existing EU programs beneficial to the Filipino people do not suffer with the decision to reject aid.
Meanwhile, Bank of the Philippine Islands Vice President and lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. said it is hard to measure the effects of the President’s decision, which may include possible trade sanctions.
Metrobank research head Marc Bautista does not see any negative impact to the overall economy.
“The grants involved are said to be in the range of only roughly $0.280 billion, which means these are less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the overall economy,” he said.
Bautista said the absence of such grants will hardly be felt and “can easily be dwarfed by inflows coming from overseas Filipino workers remittances and business process outsourcing revenues, which at roughly $50 billion per annum.”
“Foreign direct investments and other assistance coming from other countries will more than compensate for the discontinuance of EU grants so we don’t see any adverse impact to the economy coming from it,” he added.
Land Bank of the Philippines market economist Guian Angelo Dumalagan said 250 million euros is 0.10 percent of the Philippine economy.
“Viewed in this manner, the amount seems relatively minimal, although it masks the fact that some poor Muslim communities will be negatively affected the most,” he said.
In April, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to peace and development in Mindanao during the closing ceremony of the Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program held in Davao City.
The Mindanao Trust Fund is a facility where various donors contribute to the socio-economic recovery of conflict-affected communities of Mindanao. The EU is the main contributor to the multi-donor trust fund, providing around 80 percent of the total amount.
Rep. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao warned that the administration’s decision of rejecting aid just because of the EU criticism is as good as inviting a full-blown war against one of the largest trade, investment and development partners of the Philippines.
“Such an unprecedented move is short-sighted and obviously not well thought out considering that some of the administration’s own key economic managers have said they were not consulted before the decision was made. It is a haphazard move that the government cannot afford to make,” Baguilat said in a statement.
“Criticism or observation should not be mistaken for interference. The EU has demonstrated through the years that it is a partner we can rely on. To just unilaterally reject aid based on, so far, unsubstantiated claims of interference is ill advised. At the very least, the government must be transparent enough to disclose the specifics of this rejection of assistance so that we can all be ready for any possible fallout,” Baguilat Rep. Sarah Elago of Kabataan party-list echoed Baguilat.
“If they were going to reject such aid because of EU interference in domestic affairs, then that would be well. But it if it will be because of EU’s concerns on human rights violations… EU’s call to end the extrajudicial killings is not a violation of our sovereignty,” Elago said.
The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, which
in turn is one of the most dynamic regions in the world. From 2010 to 2013, our
GDP grew at an average of 6.3 percent—a remarkable increase from the 4.3 percent
average recorded from 2006 to 2009. In the face of calamities and other challenges,
the economy sustained its robust performance by growing at 5.8 percent over the
first three quarters of 2014, with manufacturing continuing to be one of its main
contributors.
Growth since 2010 has been more industry- and investment-driven,
providing a solid complement to the economic contributions of a large consumer
base and stable inflow of remittance. These domestic and global growth drivers have
helped transform our country into one of the most dynamic and resilient economies
in the world. And we are confident in the long-term sustainability of our economic
growth.
The Philippines is home to the 12th largest population in the world. Today, the average
age of Filipinos is about 23 years old, and we are at the verge of a demographic
“sweet spot” where majority of our population would be entering the workforce and
experiencing higher incomes.
The European Union (EU) has been an important partner in sustaining the growth
of our economy. The share of EU to Philippines’ total trade with the world has
been steadily increasing: from 9.3% in 2012, 10.8% in 2013, to 11.4% for January
to September in 2014. In 2013, EU accounted to 11.27% of total approved foreign
investments to the Philippines.
We capped 2014 with our inclusion in the EU Generalized Scheme of Preferences
Plus (GSP+) program - another milestone in our bilateral relations. Beginning 25
December 2014, we will be exporting 6,274 products to the EU at 0% tariff. This
positive development will create more than 200,000 jobs in the initial years of its
implementation. Employment opportunities will be in labor-intensive industries
which will in turn stimulate grassroots development.
We thank the EU for recognizing the benefits by providing this significant development
platform and deepen our bilateral relations.
We continue to work towards further improving the Philippine business environment
and our initiatives have served us well. The latest World Bank “Ease of Doing
Business” Report placed the Philippines at the 95th spot, a substantial improvement
of 13 notches from 108 in 2013. The latest Global Competitiveness Index ranked
the Philippines at 52 out of 144 countries. Our investment grade ratings have also
been improving from the top three credit rating agencies such as Fitch, Standard and
Poor’s, and Moody’s.
Good Governance is the focal point of our reform efforts. A transparent, responsive
and accountable government is what we aim to achieve. Eliminating corruption,
leveling the playing field, and making significant investments in our people pave the
way towards inclusive growth.
With good governance and a more business-friendly environment, our partnership
will continue to thrive. A partnership that is anchored on our superiority platform –a
young, dynamic market with growing income and a large pool of educated, highlyskilled,
and motivated Filipino workforce.
This publication captures the essence of the Philippine - EU partnership -- Your
Business, Our People.
Thank you and Mabuhay!
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attends the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN at a hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 11, 2017. REUTERS/Samrang Pring
The Philippines' decision to stop development assistance from the European Union was a display of the country's independent foreign policy, a top aide of President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
The poor and conflict-hit Southeast Asian country is willing to forego about 250 million Euros ($278.88 million) worth of grants to prevent European Union from meddling in its internal affairs, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.
"We're supposed to be an independent nation," he said in a message to reporters after the president had resented criticism made by European countries on his war on drugs policy, which has killed thousands of poor slum dwellers.
Almost 9,000 people, many small-time users and dealers, have been killed in the Philippines since Duterte took office on June 30. Police say about a third of the victims were shot by officers in self-defense during legitimate operations.
In October last year, the firebrand leader dared Europe and United States to withdraw development assistance if they do not agree with his drug war policy. "We will not beg for it," he said. "How do you look at us? Mendicants?"
In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte had approved a recommendation from the finance ministry "not to accept grants that may allow to interfere with internal policies".
But Economic Planning Minister Ernesto Pernia said Manila's decision to cut aid from Europe may still change.
"I will not take that as a policy," he told reporters. "It is more of a reaction to criticism. I don't think it's going to remain as such."
He said Europe ranks fifth or sixth largest donor of official development assistance.
Franz Jessen, EU ambassador to the Philippines, said he was informed this week of Manila's decision to stop receiving aid from Europe, which was funding about 100 community projects across the country.
The EU has been providing support to Manila's efforts to end nearly 50 years of Muslim rebellion in a conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people, displaced 1 million and stunted growth in one of the country's resource-rich regions.
Europe granted the Philippines 130 million euros in development assistance between 2007-2013. In 2015, it pledged 325 million euros over four years to finance projects in Muslim Mindanao after Manila signed a peace deal with rebels in March 2014.
(Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Michael Perry)
杜特尔特在马尼拉举行的东盟高峰会 2017.4.29REUTERS/Erik De Castro
