DFA Undersecretary Lazaro, EU Ambassador to ASEAN and Special Envoy to Myanmar Driesmans Discuss ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relation

Acting Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (left) and EU Ambassador Igor Driesmans (right). (Photo by DFA-OPCD Philip Adrian Fernandez)

PASAY CITY 15 March 2022 – DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro met with EU Ambassador to ASEAN and Special Envoy to Myanmar H.E. Igor Driesmans on 11 March 2022 to discuss ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, including this year’s commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU partnership.

Undersecretary Lazaro reaffirmed Philippine support for the commemorative activities for this milestone event, which includes the unveiling of the anniversary logo in Jakarta and the possible outcome documents for the proposed ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels to be held in December. The Philippines is the current country coordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations.

She said that “the Philippines is committed to working with EU to push forward cooperative partnerships under ASEAN-EU relations.” Apart from coordinating various initiatives under ASEAN-EU matters, Acting Undersecretary Lazaro also congratulated Ambassador Driesman’s appointment as the EU’s Special Envoy to Myanmar.

As country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, the Philippines will work with the EU and other ASEAN Member States in moving forward cooperative partnerships on issues related to post-COVID-19 economic recovery, green agenda, economic matters, maritime cooperation and other areas under the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action (POA).

Ambassador Driesmans also paid a courtesy call on Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.

Ambassador Driesmans was accompanied by H.E. Luc Véron, EU Ambassador to the Philippines, and Ms. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz, First Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines. END

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. with Ambassador Driesmans. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Philip Adrian Fernandez)

(From left to right) OEA Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda; ASEAN Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu; Acting Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro; EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesmans; EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron; and Ms. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz, First Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines. (Photo by DFA-OPCD Philip Adrian Fernandez)

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