ASEAN, EU Leaders push stronger sustainability cooperation amid energy crisis
Finance Secretary Go also described the proposed EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement as the country’s “most important economic agreement this year."
L-R: EU-ABC Executive Director Chris Humphrey, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro, Philippine Secretary of Finance Frederick Go, Mr Paulo Duarte, ECCP President, and ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein, at the ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit 2026. Photo from Stratbase Institute
Stratbase Institute | May 8, 2026
CEBU CITY — ASEAN and European Union (EU) leaders on Thursday called for stronger regional cooperation and urgent action on sustainability, energy transition, and economic resilience as Southeast Asia faces mounting pressure from an ongoing energy crisis and supply chain disruptions.
Speaking at the inaugural ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit 2026 in Cebu, government officials, diplomats, and business leaders stressed that sustainability has become central to the region’s long-term economic stability and competitiveness.
The summit, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, gathered more than 200 policymakers, ambassadors, and senior industry executives from across ASEAN and Europe to discuss practical strategies for strengthening cooperation on climate action, trade, food security, and resilient supply chains.
Philippine Finance Secretary Frederick Go highlighted the role of deeper economic partnerships between the Philippines and the EU.
“Europe and the Philippines have a stable and evolving partnership, built on trade, investment and development cooperation,” Go said during the ministerial keynote.
“Today, it is also focused on sustainability, climate and inclusive growth, and we remain committed to deepening our collaboration with the EU and advancing our shared priorities together.”
Go also described the proposed EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement as the country’s “most important economic agreement this year,” noting that both sides aim to sign the deal by the third quarter of 2026.
“At a time of global uncertainty marked by energy volatility, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs, this Summit could not be more timely,” said Paulo Duarte, president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and member of the EU-ASEAN Business Council executive board.
“It reflects a shared recognition across the region that sustainability is no longer optional. It is central to economic resilience, competitiveness, and long-term growth,” Duarte added.
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro emphasized the need to match climate ambitions with adequate financing and implementation mechanisms.
“While we are rightly ambitious in setting our targets for climate and environmental action, we do not always synchronize the financial resources needed to implement that ambition,” Santoro said. “Strengthening the link between ambition and financing is essential to turning policy into real, on-the-ground impact.”
Santoro also stressed the need for an integrated regional approach to sustainability and resilience.
“There should be no silos between cooperation on trade, climate and disaster risk reduction, as these are interconnected challenges,” he said. “The current energy situation must become an opportunity to accelerate this integrated approach, including on renewable energy and economic resilience.”
Indonesia Deputy Minister for National Development Planning Leonardo Teguh Sambodo said ASEAN governments must also manage twin goals of sustaining economic growth while reducing emissions to be truly sustainable.
“The only viable path forward is cohesive planning that integrates sustainability into every aspect of development.”
Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje said the region’s energy crisis could also present investment opportunities tied to the green transition.
“What can be seen right now as a challenge can be turned into an opportunity — an opportunity not just for investments to come into the Philippines, but an opportunity that provides co-benefits as we work towards a greener future and greener sources of energy,” Borje said.
Across the summit’s sectoral discussions, business leaders highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing circular economy initiatives, protecting supply chains, and strengthening food security systems.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Jonas Leones said implementing circular economy policies would require stronger investor and private sector participation.
“The best lesson there is that the government cannot do it alone,” Leones said. “We need investors, the private sector, to really implement and move forward.”
Antonio Del Rosario, president of Coca-Cola Philippines, said Extended Producer Responsibility policies could significantly strengthen ASEAN’s circular economy efforts.
“It can bring together not only government and industry, but also NGOs and the informal waste sector, which plays a significant role in Southeast Asia, including here in the Philippines,” Del Rosario said.
On supply chain integrity, Philip Morris International Director for Illicit Trade Prevention Rodney van Dooren said private companies should support, rather than replace, government enforcement systems.
“As a private sector, our role is to embed integrity into our day-to-day operations and to share relevant information, such as risk indicators and supply chain data, to support government enforcement efforts,” van Dooren said.
Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim executive Cynderella Galimpin warned that slow regulatory approvals for animal vaccines threaten food supply and economic stability during outbreaks.
“Today, regulatory approval timelines for vaccines across Southeast Asia range from one to three years, but when the outbreak is already there, that is too late, as it has already impacted food supply, trade and the economy,” Galimpin said.
Closing the summit, EU-ASEAN Business Council Executive Director Chris Humphrey urged governments, businesses, and citizens to translate discussions into concrete action.
“We need governments, businesses and citizens to take sustainability more seriously in all its aspects, so we can all live a longer life, a healthier life, and look after our planet at the same time,” Humphrey said.