00:00Thank you very much for responding to our invitation and for being here today to cover
00:10the official launch of the European Union election observation mission to the Philippines.
00:17Since my arrival in Manila last Monday, I have received a very warm welcome from the
00:24people of the Philippines, as have the core team based here in the capital, and our 72
00:32long-term observers who have now been deployed across the country.
00:37As many of you know, this is the first time the European Union has deployed an election
00:43observation mission to the Philippines.
00:46I believe this marks an important milestone in strengthening European Union-Philippines
00:52relations.
00:53But you may ask, why is this the first time?
01:00Why now and not before?
01:02And the answer is straightforward.
01:04The European Union was invited by the Philippines authorities and the Commission on Elections,
01:10COMELEC, to observe the 2025 national midterm and local elections.
01:15In the spirit of partnership and cooperation, the European Union has honoured with that invitation.
01:22But allow me to elaborate a bit more on this.
01:28International election observation is a common practice among democratic nations.
01:32Over the past 25 years, the European Union has deployed missions in 75 countries.
01:38And not only that, elections within European Union member states are also observed by international
01:45organizations.
01:46Also, the European Parliament elections, from where I come from because I am a member of the
01:51European Parliament, are observed by an international group of observers.
01:57For instance, the upcoming elections in Romania are currently being observed by an international
02:03organization.
02:05of this mission—Manoel Sanchez-De Noguez, our deputy chief observer, namely—have also taken
02:14taken part in observing elections in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Malta, Latvia, Greece
02:19or the United States.
02:22Just yesterday in Cebu, I met a Komalek official who shared with me that he had observed elections
02:30in South Korea and the United States.
02:33In my home country, Portugal, as well as in Poland, the upcoming elections will also be
02:39observed by an international organization with a similar methodology than European unions.
02:47So why do you do this?
02:51Because enabling both international and national election observation is a hallmark of democratic
02:58governance.
02:59We observe one another not to interfere, but to learn.
03:05We do so to share experiences and to improve the quality of our electoral processes.
03:10That is the spirit in which the European Union Election Observation Mission has come to the
03:15Philippines.
03:16We are not here to validate or legitimize the results.
03:21What matters to us is the process.
03:23Our role is to observe, to assess and to support democratic standards, impartiality and independently,
03:34and without interfering in the process.
03:38We assess these elections against international and regional standards for democratic elections,
03:43as well as against the laws of the Philippines and principles of good electoral practice.
03:48The European Union applies a long-term and comprehensive election observation methodology.
03:56This approach allows us to assess every phase of the electoral process.
04:01The legal framework, the performance of the election administration, the registration of
04:07voters and candidates, the campaign, including campaign finance, the role of the media and
04:13social media, and the quality of information available to voters to make an informed choice.
04:21We also monitor the respect for fundamental freedoms that are essential to democratic elections,
04:27the right to vote and to stand as a candidate, freedom of expression and information, freedom
04:34of movement and association, equality among contestants, the right to an effective legal remedy,
04:42and the right of voters to cast their ballot free from pressure or intimidation.
04:47Naturally, we will observe election day itself, polling, automatic counting, and the tabulation
04:55of results.
04:56Our mission operates through a core team of 12 experts based here in Manila and 72 long-term
05:04observers deployed in 36 teams of two covering all regions of the country since 16 April.
05:14As stated at the time of their deployment, these long-term observers are the cornerstone of
05:19our comprehensive and long-term methodology.
05:23In about 10 days now, we will be joined by an additional 104 short-term observers deployed
05:31in 52 teams across the country.
05:34We will also be joined by a delegation of members of the European Parliament as well as diplomats
05:40from European Member States accredited to the Philippines.
05:44In total, on Election Day, 12 May 2025, the European Union Election Observation Mission
05:51will comprise 200 observers from European Union Member States, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland,
05:59deployed throughout the Philippines.
06:03You will not read or hear from us any assessment of the election until 14 May, when we will publicly
06:15present here in Manila our preliminary statement.
06:18The statement will include our assessment of the process until that moment.
06:24Around two months after the conclusion of the elections, we will come back to the Philippines
06:29to present our final report.
06:31This will be a very comprehensive document with an account and our final assessment of elections.
06:38More importantly, the final report will contain recommendations offered for the consideration of the authorities,
06:44lawmakers, and the election administration, and the general public, of course.
06:50These recommendations are offered in the spirit of partnership and cooperation with the
06:55aim to improve future electoral processes.
06:59As I mentioned earlier, election observation is fundamentally about sharing and learning from
07:06one another to improve our democracies.
07:09It is this spirit of mutual respect, cooperation, and exchange that underpins the work of our mission.
07:17Thank you very much.
07:18Salamat po.
07:25Salamat po.
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