EU leader stresses importance of human rights, rule of law during ASEAN summit

November 14, 2017

European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday human rights and rule of law are priorities for the 28-member European Union.

Tusk made the remarks during the 40th ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, which President Rodrigo Duterte presided over being the chairman of ASEAN.

"Further enhancing our relations based on common interests and shared values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law is a priority for the EU," he said.

The European Union has raised concern over the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in the wake of the war on drugs.

EU's concern earned the ire of Duterte who earlier said that European countries could cut diplomatic ties with the Philippines.

Duterte, for his part, underscored the importance of the relationship between ASEAN and EU.

"The EU occupies a special place in the ASEAN’s external relations, as it is a natural partner of ASEAN community-building and integration," he said.

He noted that EU, which has 28 members, is ASEAN's largest and only region-to-region full dialogue partnerships.

"Our increasing people-oriented, people-centered agenda drives ASEAN-EU cooperation on the bulk of long-standing historical and commercial ties," he said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, in a statement, said during the ASEAN-EU Summit, Duterte shared his insights, particularly "a concern close to his heart," which is to collaborate a drug-free ASEAN upon good practices applicable to various national settings, and taking into consideration the transnational nature of the problem.

"PRRD (Duterte) reiterated that the Philippines welcomes cooperation under the principle of total respect of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of the State," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS