Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Inside Washington email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was holding talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Monday in a sign of improving ties after a stormy period between the EU and his predecessor over human rights.
Von der Leyen arrived in Manila Sunday night for the first such top-level visit in nearly six decades of relations with the Philippines. Her visit is aimed at strengthening diplomatic, trade, security and overall relations, European and Philippine officials said, adding that she came at Marcos’s invitation.
The talks between von der Leyen and her delegation with Filipino officials were also expected to cover the Philippines’ chances of retaining special trade incentives depending on its adherence to international conventions on human and labor rights and good governance.
In February, a group of European parliamentarians said Manila’s chances of retaining those incentives, including slashed tariffs for a wide array of products, would increase if a long-detained opposition leader is freed and the Philippines rejoins the International Criminal Court.
The European Union trade incentives under the so-called Generalized Scheme of Preferences, or GSP Plus, for the Philippines and seven other developing countries are anchored on their adherence to more than two dozen international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.
Recommended Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
The trading incentives, which the Philippines started to enjoy in 2014, would end in December and the government could reapply within a two-year period to retain them, the European lawmakers said then.
Promoted stories
Coolsculpting | Search ads
Singapore: Belly Fat Removal Without Surgery. The Cost Might Surprise YouCoolsculpting | Search ads
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
But the Philippines came under intense EU criticism during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term, mainly because of the bloody anti-drugs crackdown he oversaw that left more than 6,000 mostly petty suspects dead. Marcos succeeded Duterte in June last year.
The killings sparked an International Criminal Court investigation as a possible crime against humanity. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2018, but its prosecutor has proceeded to investigate the widespread deaths that occurred in the years when the country was still part of the court based in The Hague.
Duterte then often lashed at the EU’s criticisms of his brutal anti-drugs crackdown with profanity-laced outbursts.
European parliamentarians have also repeatedly demanded the release of opposition leader and former senator Leila de Lima, Duterte’s most vocal critic who was arrested and detained in 2017 on drug charges she said were fabricated by Duterte and his officials to stop her from investigating the killings.
Hannah Neumann, who led the European delegation in a visit to the Philippines in February, told a news conference then that rights conditions under the Marcos administration were “better than it was under Pres. Duterte” in reply to a question. “There are a lot of announcements that could indeed improve things if they’re implemented."
The delegates then welcomed Marcos’ “commitment to change the focus of the ‘war on drugs’ away from a punitive approach towards prevention and rehabilitation."
But they said extrajudicial killings have reportedly persisted and underscored the need for all the killings to be investigated and the perpetrators held to account to fight impunity.
Recommended LGBTQ+ community proud and visible at Women's World Cup Typhoon Doksuri is downgraded to tropical storm status as it leaves southern China Watch: Gym roof collapses during basketball game as typhoon Doksuri hits Philippines
Asked if a decision to release de Lima and rejoin the ICC would boost the Philippines’ chances of continuing to enjoy the EU trading incentives, Neumann said that would be “a strong sign in which direction the country wants to move."
“The European Parliament has been quite clear that whoever wants to have preferential access to the European market needs to uphold social standards, human rights standards, environmental standards,” she said. “This is not going to go away.”
More about Philippines AP Ursula von der Leyen International Criminal Court Manila Rodrigo Duterte European Commission Leila de Lima The Hague Lima
1/ 1EU leader pays rare visit to Philippines after stormy ties with past president over human rights
EU leader pays rare visit to Philippines after stormy ties with past president over human rights Philippines European Commission
Promoted stories
Next Level Options Masterclass
Learning To Invest With This Community Allows Me To Travel Any Time To AnywhereNext Level Options Masterclass| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Sofa
Unsold Sofas Selling For Nearly Nothing In Singapore! Search ResultsThe best 2023 couches & sofas offers - search pricesSofa| Sponsored Sponsored
Search Now
Undo
PanzerQuest
If you have a mouse, this game will keep you awake all night long.PanzerQuest| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
The Next Level Options Masterclass
This Investing System Has Helped 7,292 Students Earn Consistent Monthly IncomeLearn how the rich are investing to earn extra profits in a chaotic stock market.The Next Level Options Masterclass| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Hair’s Rich
Japanese Special hair-growth method. Hair grows too fastHair’s Rich| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Kingdom Of Men
Couple have a wedding photoshoot. But then the photographer notices something strange.Kingdom Of Men| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Soolide
He loved her for 50 years and now after he died she discovers this horrible truthSoolide| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
DBS
New DBS Vantage Card. Rewards your way.DBS| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
asia Woman in India ‘beaten to death with iron rod by cousin after refusing to marry him’
Undo
news French daredevil known for skyscraper climbs plummets to death from 68th floor
Undo
Joe Pesci criticised for resurfaced ‘slap’ comment about Sinead O’Connor culture
Undo
Promoted by Independent Premium
Going up? How the century-old idea of a ‘space elevator’ could become realityThere are some technologies that seem so well established that it’s hard to imagine how they could ever be overcome. Almost all our plans to conquer outer space are based on rockets and it’s our failure to improve them, more than anything else, that has left us confined to the surface of this planetPromoted by Independent Premium| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Rest Wow
When He Married Her Everyone Laughed At Him. 6 Years Later She Showed Her TransformationRest Wow| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Handy Tricks
Wild Horse Is Always Seen With Pack Of Wolves - Then Hunter Discovers The TruthHandy Tricks| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
lifestyle The bowel cancer symptom George Alagiah wished he’d caught earlier
Undo
lifestyle Elon Musk reacts to ex-wife Talulah Riley’s engagement to Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Undo
TopNews
Tiger Woods' Ex-wife is Almost 50 And Time Has Not Been Kind To HerTopNews| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
news Family of bullied 12-year-old who died by suicide will get $9.1m settlement
Undo
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in