Don Chan Villa, Vientiane, Lao PDR
5 November 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III held a trilateral meeting with Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission in his third meeting before the opening ceremony of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

The three leaders discussed the progress that the Philippines has made in addressing the European Union’s concern on the country’s maritime training and certification system, as well as the Philippine’s compliance with air safety standards.

At present, 25% of Filipino seafarers abroad are employed by European-flagged vessels. In 2011, their remittances amounted to US$1.2 billion. Europe is also host to 746,701 Filipinos whose remittances in 2011 amounted to US$2.1 billion.

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