EU envoy says EU-ASEAN partnership essential in confronting global crises
EU envoy says EU-ASEAN partnership essential in confronting global crises The European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must deepen their partnership to address the world’s most pressing challenges, an EU official told lecture participants at the University of the Philippines. Leila Fernandez-Stembridge, Head of Division for Southeast Asia and ASEAN at the European External Action Service (EEAS), delivered the message during a public lecture entitled “EU-ASEAN: Why a partnership across continents matters to your future,” held on June 10, 2026 at the Elizabeth Yu Gokongwei Lecture Room, UP Diliman School of Economics She pointed to overlapping crises shaping the present world affairs: a warming planet, transnational cybercrime, fragile supply chains, and contested waters that carry the bulk of global trade. “None of these issues stop at national borders. And that is why partnerships really matter,” she said. “No country, not even the largest country, can tackle these alone. We need partnerships.” Amid these challenges, Fernandez-Stembridge emphasized, the Philippines is well positioned to contribute through three strengths—peace, prosperity, and people. On peace, she said, the country has been a steady voice for international law, from the South China Sea arbitration to UN reforms. On prosperity, EU-Philippines free trade agreement negotiations are advancing rapidly, with European markets seeking Philippine goods and Philippine start-ups seeking EU investment. “And then people. Seventy percent of ASEAN is under 40 years old. And the Philippines population is also extremely young. And your generation will decide if this region of ASEAN actually becomes or not a global innovation hub. So, as I said, the Philippines is not just within ASEAN, but it’s actually shaping its future.” The call lands at a defining moment for the country as it chairs ASEAN this year under the theme Navigating Our Future Together. This places the Philippines at the center of decisions that will shape EU-ASEAN ties, including their planned upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2027. Bringing the message closer to the students themselves, Fernandez-Stembridge made the case that EU-ASEAN cooperation is not abstract diplomacy but a response to global developments already shaping their everyday lives—the jobs they will hold, the technologies they will use, the air they will breathe, and the opportunities they will have to study and work abroad. “You are building the future,” she told the students. “Don’t underestimate it. Don’t take it for granted. You are fortunate to be here. The world, and particularly the Philippines, depends on you. And EU-ASEAN relations will depend on you,” Fernandez-Stembridge concluded. The hybrid lecture was attended by faculty, students, researchers, and administrative personnel from UP units and different organizations across the country. It was hosted by the UP School of Economics (UPSE), the Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED), and the UP Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI). Representing OVPRI was Vice President Joel Joseph Mariano, while UPSE and PCED were represented by Professor Karl Robert Jandoc, Research Director, together with other OVPRI and UPSE officials.