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Article 26 of the Framework Agreement, headed ‘Cooperation on Migration and Development’, provides: ‘1. The Parties reaffirm the importance of the joint management of migratory flows between their territories. With a view to strengthening cooperation, the Parties shall establish a mechanism for comprehensive dialogue and consultation on all migration-related issues. Migration concerns shall be included in the national strategies/national development framework for economic and social development of countries of origin, transit and destination of migrants. 2. Cooperation between the Parties shall be based on a specific needs‑assessment conducted in mutual consultation and agreement between the Parties and be implemented in accordance with the relevant Union and national legislation in force. It will, in particular, focus on: ... (e) the establishment of an effective and preventive policy to address the presence on their territory of a national of the other Party who does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of entry, stay or residence in the territory of the Party concerned; the smuggling of persons, and trafficking in human beings, including ways to combat networks of smugglers of persons and traffickers and to protect the victims of such activities; (f) the return of persons as defined under paragraph 2, point (e) of this Article, under humane and dignified conditions, including the promotion of their voluntary and sustainable return to the countries of origin, and their admission/readmission in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article. The return of such persons shall be with due regard to the Parties’ right to grant residence permits or authorisations to stay for compassionate and humanitarian reasons and the principle of non-refoulement; ... (h) migration and development issues including human resources development, social protection, maximising benefits from migration, gender and development, ethical recruitment and circular migration, and the integration of migrants. 3. Within the framework of cooperation in this area and without prejudice to the need to protect victims of human trafficking, the Parties further agree that: (a) The Philippines shall admit back any of its nationals as defined under paragraph 2, point (e) of this Article present in the territory of a Member State upon request by the latter, without undue delay once nationality has been established and due process in the Member State carried out. (b) Each Member State shall readmit any of its nationals as defined under paragraph 2, point (e) of this Article present in the territory of the Philippines upon request by the latter, without undue delay once nationality has been established and due process in the Philippines carried out. (c) The Member States and the Philippines will provide their nationals with required documents for such purposes. Any request for admission or readmission shall be transmitted by the requesting state to the competent authority of the requested state. Where the person concerned does not possess any appropriate identity documents or other proof of his/her nationality, the competent diplomatic or consular representation concerned shall be immediately requested by the Philippines or Member State to ascertain his/her nationality, if needed by means of an interview; and once ascertained to be a national of the Philippines or Member State, appropriate documents shall be issued by the competent Philippine or Member State authorities. 4. The Parties agree to conclude as soon as possible an agreement for the admission/readmission of their nationals, including a provision on the readmission of nationals of other countries and stateless persons.’