European parliament and RP Senate discuss inter-parliamentary today

By Jason de Asis

 

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, November 5, 2010-The EU Parliament delegation, led by Mr. Werner Langen, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Countries of Southeast Asia and the ASEAN and a member of the Europe People’s Party of Germany, and the Philippine Senate, led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, will be discussing the growing partnership among the countries and the EU that have seen enhanced cooperation among the nations on a range of global issues including achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, conflict prevention, human rights and security.

 

Senator Loren Legarda is among the legislators who will participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Meeting between the European Parliament and the Philippine Senate today at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

 

Among the issues that would be discussed is stronger collaboration in promoting Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (CCMA) initiatives.

 

“There should be continuing advocacy for DRR and CCMA in governments. The Parliamentarians of the Philippines and the EU can continue to cooperate toward ensuring the mainstreaming of DRR and CCMA in legislation and budget appropriations,” Legarda said. 

 

She furthered that EU’s Green Diplomacy Network (GDN) would be a usable model for the country’s own CCMA efforts while the GDN focuses on environmental topics that have significant relevance to the EU’s external relations.

 

The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department is providing about €2 million for projects to enhance local disaster preparedness capacity in the country and that she would also seek assurance on the protection of the welfare of an estimated one million Filipinos living in Europe.

 

Several countries are reportedly going after undocumented foreign workers due to the debt crisis in Europe that has affected its employment sectors adding that they would want to discuss with the EU delegation how the Directive 2008/115/EC would affect Filipino workers who wish to pursue opportunities in Europe.

 

The European parliament consists of the the common standards and procedures in EU Member States for third country national as per directive 2008/225/EC. (Jason de Asis)