Brussels, 27/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 26 May, the EU welcomed the agreement concluded between the governments of the Philippines and Indonesia on the boundary between their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the Mindanao Sea and the Celebes Sea. This is “a positive example of a peaceful and cooperative solution of a maritime dispute in accordance with international law”, said the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. The agreement “attests to the commitment of the partners to engage in a consultative process of dispute settlement based on equality and mutual respect”, Ashton's spokesperson added, stating that it was “a significant contribution to a rules based regional community”.
On 23 May, the Philippines and Indonesia signed the agreement settling the dispute on their maritime boundary, after 20 years of negotiations. (CG)