EU won’t beg Philippines to accept grants

MANILA, Philippines -  Although hopeful that the misunderstanding can be settled soon, the European Union (EU) has said it would not beg the Philippines to accept grants that can be provided to other countries needing assistance from the bloc.

European External Action Service managing director Gunnar Wiegand yesterday said the EU is willing to stay engaged and cooperate with the Philippines despite the Duterte administration’s new policy rejecting grants from the union.

“We do not believe that we have to, in any way, beg to ask, ‘Philippines, can you please take our money?’” Wiegand told reporters in an interview at the EU ambassador’s residence in Makati City.

The EU has established a track record of working well with Philippine partners and beneficiaries, he said, in assistance that has a significant rule of law component “that this is not any form of interference.”

“We hope that any misunderstandings can be clarified soon, but if we are not welcome to provide money, there is no lack of other countries in the region and beyond where the money can be very well used,” Wiegand said.

But the official emphasized that the standard provision of rule of law and guaranty of human rights are “nothing special for the Philippines.”

“I would like to clarify the conditionality which is standard provision of all our financing agreements with partners, whether it is in this region or in other regions of the world,” Wiegand said.

Respect for human rights and the rule of law are components in providing funding.

“We believe that our cooperation with the Philippines is based and will continue to be based on those very principles and I do not see why the Philippines would argue against any of these principles,” Wiegand said.

“That is something that we apply as a standard for all our assistance programs and it is something which should be not so difficult to apply with the country which is democratic, stands for rule of law which takes its own commitments for the guaranty of human rights seriously,” he stressed.

Asked why it is important for donor countries to set conditions, the visiting EU official said: “It’s the money of our taxpayers. They want to know where their money goes.”

The EU, according to Wiegand, awaits clarification of circumstances under which the bloc can continue to provide useful assistance to the poor and vulnerable and the peace process, the main areas of support.

“My understanding is that this country wants to continue to cooperate with EU in a number of important fields but I need to have clarity about the arrangements which would be seen as necessary,” he added.

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen on Tuesday said that the EU is not withdrawing its development assistance to the Philippines, as the government has to formally notify the bloc and clarify President Duterte’s policy not to accept grants.

Over the past 25 years, the EU has been a key actor in the region, known for working alongside the Philippine government to promote peace, human security and development in the most vulnerable, conflict-affected communities.

Currently, more than 35 million euros or P1.8 billion are invested in ongoing projects under different funding tools to provide support to peace in Mindanao.