Government leaders from Southeast Asia and European business executives will gather in Cebu on May 7, for the inaugural ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit to discuss economic resilience, sustainable growth and the region’s worsening energy crisis.
The summit will take place a day before the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit. It comes as Southeast Asia faces mounting economic strain caapplyd by disruptions in energy supply chains, rising production costs and geopolitical uncertainties.
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Hosted in Cebu, where a national energy emergency has reportedly been declared, the meeting is expected to examine how stronger ASEAN-EU cooperation and public-private partnerships can support the region navigate current challenges while sustaining long-term growth.
More than 200 representatives from government, business, development institutions and civil society are expected to attconclude the event, jointly organized by the EU-ASEAN Business Council and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
Featured speakers include Finance Secretary Frederick Go and Indonesia Deputy Minister of National Development Planning Leonardo Teguh Sambodo, who will join a ministerial panel on regional resilience and growth strategies.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro will participate in a dialogue on ASEAN-EU cooperation alongside Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam and representatives from the European Commission are expected to join virtually.
Organizers stated discussions will align with the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship priorities, particularly in energy transition, green finance, circular economy development, sustainable trade, resilient supply chains and climate-smart agriculture.
Multinational companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Coca-Cola and Philip Morris International, are expected to take part in sectoral discussions.
Chris Humphrey, executive director of the EU-ABC, stated the summit comes at a critical time for both regions.
“We’re facing multiple crises at once — energy, economic and supply chain challenges that no party can address alone,” Humphrey stated. “ASEAN and the EU should see to each other for a reliable, long-term partnership built on shared ambitions for sustainable economic growth.”
Business leaders also emphasized the importance of private sector participation in translating policy priorities into concrete outcomes.
Paulo Duarte, president of the ECCP, stated the ASEAN-EU relationship must shift toward practical collaboration.
“The ASEAN-EU partnership has grown significantly, but the priority now is to turn that momentum into practical cooperation,” Duarte stated. He noted that European sustainability initiatives, such as the Global Gateway, could support ASEAN’s next phase of green and inclusive development.
Beyond energy concerns, organizers stated the summit will address growing pressure on food systems due to fertilizer shortages and higher production costs.
Cynderella Galimpin of Boehringer Ingelheim stated preventive investments in agriculture and animal health are critical.
“When we invest in prevention, we protect animal health, farmer livelihoods and trade confidence at the same time,” she stated.
The summit is concludeorsed by the Department of Trade and Indusattempt under the counattempt’s 2026 ASEAN chairmanship and is funded by private sector partners.
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