Greetings of peace this Yuletide season

Arriving in Manila early September this year to assume my post as the Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines brought back many heart-warming memories. I first visited the Philippines in the early ’90s, as the EU desk officer for ASEAN, and have followed developments in the Philippines since then. Now I have returned with my wife and son to make the Philippines our home for the next four years, and we are looking forward to get to know the country and its people even more.

And what better way to start a posting? Already in September, I saw the first Christmas decorations being displayed, and with them the Yuletide spirit started to come alive, in Makati where my office is, in the rest of Metro Manila and all over the country. Coming from Northern Europe, where Christmas is in the middle of the darkest period of the year, and where everyone is wishing for snow during the Christmas period it is wonderful to see how it is also one of the most looked-forward-to-holidays here, and the celebrations in the Philippines convey warm feelings in a country where the family is at the heart of society. Christmas is also a message of peace. Peace is a core value for the European Union. Building peace is in fact at the heart of the European Union.  

Coming out of the Second World War, Europe lay in ruins. Vowing never to have a war ravage Europe again, leaders put all their energy into building peace. These initiatives have evolved into the European Union we see today, with 28 of the nations in Europe being members, and with others seeking to join. It began as a peace project, and it has successfully maintained peace in Europe. It shows how lasting peace can be achieved. The EU has, therefore, set itself the goal of promoting peace in other parts of the world.

As a global actor, the EU supports peace and prosperity as ways to overcome conflicts around the world. The EU is able to employ its wide array of external assistance instruments in support of conflict prevention and peace building, as we do also here in the Philippines.

For many years we concentrated our development cooperation with the Philippines on poverty alleviation in Mindanao. More recently, the EU started to make a political contribution to the peace process by joining the International Monitoring Team, and by funding a number of other elements of the peace process. 

On 9 December I gave my first press conference in Manila. There I was happy to elaborate on a new programme, launched in August, in support of the peace process in Mindanao. The EU will provide P261 million worth of assistance over the coming 18 months to allow for a smooth transition in order to create conditions for the establishment of the Autonomous Region of the Bangsamoro and the election of its government. The assistance will have two components: contribution to the peace building and conflict mitigation through monitoring the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro and the strengthening of local institutions and establishment of political processes.

At this stage we will soon know whether the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be adopted within this year or not. Whatever the outcome, I am inspired and much impressed by the fact that all parties concerned are so dedicated to a continued peace process. I have met government representatives here in Manila who confirm their dedication to a peaceful settlement, and in talks I had last week in Cotabato on Mindanao, representatives from MILF assured me of the same conviction.

There is no other way in winning the hearts of people other than peace. With this, let me and my family wish you all a Festive and Peaceful Holiday Season  that will bring good prospects to us all.