European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium May 5, 2021. REUTERS/Yves Herman
BAGUIO CITY — While US President Donald Trump may have suspended all US aid programs worldwide, including those for the Philippines, 18 ambassadors from the European Union have assured that their respective countries would continue funding projects aimed at improving Filipino productivity, accelerating green economies and significantly reducing poverty.
The EU delegation made this commitment at a press conference here on Wednesday, just two weeks before the 27-nation alliance begins a new round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Philippines in February.
The ambassadors, along with their spouses and embassy staff, toured the country’s summer capital this week—marking the beginning of a series of countryside visits to gain firsthand insight into the social and economic realities unfolding across the Philippines.
These visits would focus on cities and towns where EU-funded projects are currently being implemented, allowing the delegation to assess the effectiveness of Philippine-EU cooperation.
The trips will also help European countries understand how their advocacy on social justice, climate mitigation and child protection are being adopted by Filipino communities, said Massimo Santoro, EU Ambassador to the Philippines and head of the delegation.
When asked whether the EU could compensate for the funding gaps left by the withdrawal of U.S. aid, Santoro pointed out that Trump’s 90-day freeze on overseas programs was a temporary measure, justified by his administration as part of a review.
However, the EU is prepared for the “potential impact” of a prolonged suspension of U.S. aid on “like-minded” nations, he added.
Citing the EU’s “strategic autonomy” to “observe and evaluate what happens around us,” Santoro reaffirmed that the alliance will continue engaging with the Philippines on shared concerns.