Envoy optimistic on future of PH-EU relations

Jessen, who served as the EU’s ambassador to the Philippines for four years, is departing Manila on Friday after ending his tour of duty in the country. (PNA File Photo)

MANILA— European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen is leaving Manila with optimism that the EU and Philippine relations will further flourish.

“All relationships need to be maintained, this applies to personal as well as to international relations.

We have succeeded in this,” he said during his farewell message.

Jessen, who served as the EU’s ambassador to the Philippines for four years, is departing Manila on Friday after ending his tour of duty in the country.

“Relations also need to develop, and I am by nature quite ambitious and would have liked to see even greater growth in our bilateral cooperation,” he added.

On the progress in the EU-Philippines engagement, Jessen highlighted the high-level visits of EU Council President Donald Tusk and EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini in Manila.

He also talked about the ratification of the EU-Philippine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which is now being implemented.

Talking about his stay in the Philippines, the envoy said it has been “fascinating” to observe some global changes sitting in a front seat in Manila.

“At times it has been a challenge not to be absorbed, not to be overly distracted, by the new language used,” he said, but the focus remained on the underlying relations of Manila and the bloc including the two partners’ shared interests.

“The Philippines and the EU remain free-market economies, remain to be democracies, remain value-driven societies with the vibrant press and very active civil societies,” he said.

Meanwhile, the diplomat remains optimistic that the Philippines “will do very well”.

“My optimism is based on your intrinsic strength. We see that it in here, we see it in Europe, where the Overseas Filipino Workers do an incredible job, and we see how easily they adjust and enjoy the European way of life while working and living in Europe,” Jessen said.

The envoy also said he enjoyed interacting with the Filipino people may they be students, business people, the diplomatic community, politicians, civil society, journalists, writers, and local and central government officials.

“The friendships that I have made allowed me to have a different, richer, perspective on your country,” he said.