President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has acknowledged the deeper relations between the Philippines and the European Union under outgoing Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Serge Gustave Eugene Veron.
Marcos praised Veron’s work during the latter’s farewell call in Malacañang Palace on Thursday afternoon.
“You’ve been affixed here in all the work that we’ve been doing for the last three years, since I’ve been President. And I think that in that time we really have seen a much deeper interconnection between the Philippines and the EU,” Marcos said in a press statement issued Friday.
“I don’t think we’ve had this close relationship with the EU as we have now and I’m happy that that’s the case,” he added.
In the farewell call, Veron was conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu), Silver Distinction (Katangiang Pilak) for his significant contributions in strengthening the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the EU.
“For his (Veron) role in promoting the rule of law and the rules-based international order and in furthering the long-standing commitment and consistent contributions of the European Union toward securing peace and development in Mindanao, through the peace process, grassroots development, and the ongoing transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” a portion of the citation stated.
“For his efforts to obtain and provide humanitarian assistance to the Philippines in times of natural disaster and during the COVID-19 pandemic and for his many laudable initiatives to foster amity and mutual appreciation between the peoples of the Philippines and the European Union; have caused to be inscribed in the roster the order of Sikatuna,” it added.
In a separate post on social media platform X, Veron recalled that the highlight of his career was the meeting of Marcos and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the latter’s visit to the country.
Honored to meet President @bongbongmarcos for my final farewell call. Humbled to be conferred the Order of Sikatuna, for strengthened ???????????????? relations, which I’ve personally seen manifest across the 60 provinces I’ve visited.
Your personal engagement with Brussels and President… pic.twitter.com/YMGjmEozX1
— Ambassador Luc Véron ???????? (@EUAmbPH) August 22, 2024
The Presidential Communications Office said that EU has been Manila’s steadfast development partner in achieving its development goals, and has also extended support through various means for the peace and development process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
When it comes to the issue in the West Philippine Sea, the EU showed strong support to the Philippines amid China’s aggressive actions in the region.
The EU has continued to uphold a rules-based international order and rule of law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated Beijing’s massive claim in the region. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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