EU election observers in PH: We observe, not to interfere

Manila Bulletin

Observation, not interference, is the European Union (EU) election observation team's mission in the Philippines with the aim to "improve democracy." (Video courtesy of EU EOMs)   READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/25/eu-election-observers-in-ph-we-observe-not-to-interfere   Join this channel to get access to perks:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5664f6TkaeHgwBly50DWZQ/join   Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin   Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin  Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin   #ManilaBulletinOnline  #ManilaBulletin  #LatestNews

Transcript

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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