What EU wants known about ties with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union Delegation to the Philippines on Monday launched a media campaign to increase awareness and understanding of the European Union and its relation with the Philippines.

Although the relationship between the European Union and the Philippines is deep and maturing, the relevance of the European Union to daily interaction is not well understood by all decision-makers in the Philippines.

"How many Filipinos would guess that the European Union is the largest investor in the Philippines, that the European Union is the fourth largest trading partner of the Philippines or that the EU is the second largest source of remittances from Filipino OWFs?" asked EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux.

To address the situation the European Union Delegation is launching a campaign entitled "We Inspire Each Other."

By portraying how Filipinos and Europeans are already trading together, creating new products together, and even helping each other in times of crisis, the campaign shows how we continue to be an inspiration to one another.

As the world's largest economy and world's largest investor, the EU and its business leaders are taking a keen new interest in the Philippines driven by this country's persistently strong economic performance.

Real opportunities for new investment and employment are being generated. Filipino entrepreneurs with a better understanding of how Europe works and how easy it is to trade with a single market of 500 million affluent consumers will be the ones best placed to exploit these opportunities.

Our political engagement has also moved up a gear as evidenced by the numerous high level bilateral visits between Europe and the Philippines.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux

The visit of President Benigno Aquino III to Europe last year highlighted the opportunities to work more closely together on the international stage on issues of vital mutual interest from climate change to counter-terrorism and maritime security in the South China Sea. 

"Our campaign is an invitation to all actors, be they political, economic or artistic, to be part of an inspiring relationship between the European Union and the Philippines" concluded EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux.