Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri received Minister of State in the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Florian Hahn recently in his office at the Senate.
The Minister was accompanied by German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke.
Senator Zubiri and Minister Hahn underscored their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed optimism for expanded business and trade relations.
Both noted that Philippines–European Union (EU) relations are currently in a “golden age.”
Senator Zubiri recognized Germany’s continued support for the Philippines under the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme and reaffirmed the Senate’s support for the PH-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) once ongoing negotiations are concluded and the agreement is submitted for ratification.
Senator Zubiri also cited the recent visit of EU Member States Ambassadors, including Ambassador Pfaffernoschke, to Bukidnon and recognized Germany as a key partner in the Support to Peace and Development in Mindanao (SPADe) project, which benefits local coffee farming communities.
Senator Zubiri also highlighted Germany’s initiatives during the peace process in Mindanao and presented his book on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which details the journey toward the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
(Photo credit: Francis Santocildes)
