The European Parliament elections matter to the Philippines

The world’s largest multi-state democratic exercise took place in Europe this weekend with citizens from the 28 member States electing a new European Parliament that will co-legislate for 500 million Europeans and take decisions that impact the EU’s relations with the rest of the world including the Philippines.

World headlines are full of stories about the gains made by parties on the far left and the far right as well as the eurosceptics. Significant as these are, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that 65% of Europeans voted for centrist parties that support further European integration. Together these parties hold a comfortable majority in the European Parliament that can ensure that the busy agenda of the European Union and its citizens can be pursued uninterrupted.

This is reassuring for the Philippines which has a bigger interest in what takes place in the European Parliament than many would imagine. Whether it is on important trade or political issues, it is often the Members of the European Parliament that hold the key to closer EU-Philippine relations. The European Parliament’s assent is required for the entry into force of the EU-Philippine Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. It also has an important role to play in the approval of preferential trade agreements such as GSP+, which is being pursued by the Philippines to secure significant cuts in tariffs for an array of Philippine goods entering the EU. The EP has also had a central role in the approval of FTAs with other ASEAN countries and would be equally important if the Philippines decided to go down the same path with the EU.

The European Parliament has also raised the profile in Europe of issues that are important to the interests of the Philippines. It was the EP that adopted last year a resolution that encourages countries to resort to UNCLOS arbitration to tackle disputes in the South China Sea. Meanwhile a Delegation of Members of the European Parliament also visited the Philippines last year to express the EU’s support for the peace process in Mindanao. This is particularly significant when one considers that the European Parliament holds the EU purse strings and no development assistance can be given without its approval.

The European Parliament is also an important actor on migration policy and takes pride in its role of robust defender of human rights both in Europe and abroad. A few months ago the remarkable achievements of the Philippines in the field of gender equality were recognized at the European Parliament when Senator Legarda received an award on behalf of her country that placed it in a class of its own in the Asian continent.

As the European Union enters a period of renewal that will see the election of new leaders for all its political institutions, the next months will be an excellent opportunity for Filipino politicians to establish close contacts with the new incumbents, starting with the freshly elected members of the European Parliament.

 When the Delegation of the European Parliament visited last year the idea to establish a Joint Parliamentary Group between the Senate and House of the Philippines and the European Parliament was proposed and welcomed. As the European Union enters a new political cycle the moment to put that proposal into practice has now come. 

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(Guy Ledoux is the Ambassador of the European Union.)