Your Excellency, Ambassador and Mrs. Jan de Kok,
Your Excellency, Salem Adam, Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Herbert Jaeger, representing the EU Presidency,
Excellencies of the EU Member-States,
The Honorable Speaker Jose de Venecia, Honorable Members of the House of Representatives and Senate,
Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honorable Colleagues in the Philippine Government,
Distinguished Guests, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to extend, on behalf of H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Filipino people, our sincerest felicitations to the European Union, its member-states, and the European Commission on the observance of Europe Day.

Exactly 56 years ago, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman declared that "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it." Mr. Schuman was, of course, floating the idea then of a unified Europe in order to safeguard the peace painstakingly achieved following the Second World War. Many European nations heeded his call, leading to the creation of what is now the European Union.

How true this declaration still rings today. Poverty, terrorism, and the emergence of new public health concerns are only a few of these present-day threats to global security. The European Union and the Philippines share a full appreciation of these challenges and have joined hands in partnership to combat them.

I would like to take this occasion to convey my government's appreciation for the contribution of the European Union and the European Commission, in particular, to our unremitting efforts to further improve the lives of our people.

Aside from being one of the Philippines' important trade and investment partners, the European Union is a leading promoter of high-impact projects in the country. Since the 1990s, the European Commission has undertaken socio-economic projects including on the environment, rural development, poverty alleviation, and good governance - to mention a few.

Recently, the Philippines signed financing agreements with the European Commission for pioneering projects in anti-money laundering, border management, and trade-related technical assistance. In the pipeline is the Health Sector Policy Support Programme which will seek to complement the government's campaign to effectively deliver basic health services, specifically in 16 of our most needy provinces.

The Philippines and European Union are now reaping the fruits of closer collaboration. However, for our relationship to evolve from strength to strength, we should continue to expand the scope of our engagement, including in multilateral fora such as the World Trade Organization.

For example, the Philippines and the European Union could work together in the continuing search for alternative sources of energy. We could join efforts to find ways of coping with the energy crisis through research and the exchange of know-how, expertise, and technologies.

We could also build on our historical and cultural ties in raising our respective profiles in each other's country. This could be done through more vigorous educational linkages and scholarship programs. Better awareness, well-grounded in the principles of openness and equal partnership, facilitates interaction and respect that could only lead to more solid friendship.

Indeed, the road ahead beckons with many exciting opportunities. The Philippines is ready and willing to join hands with the European Union for mutual benefit.

May I therefore invite you to raise your glasses in a spirited toast to an ever more fruitful and lasting friendship between the Philippines and the European Union!

Mabuhay! END