Camille Naredo

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News

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EU Ambassador

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773743002849IMG_1153.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. <em>Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro tackled the ripple effects of the US-Iran war, EU security cooperation with Manila, and the status of free trade negotiations in a wide-ranging interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday.</p><p>Santoro outlined the European Union&#x27;s strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting efforts to strengthen partnerships with multilateral bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with countries like the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s about values, of course, because when it is about working together for the promotion of rules-based international order, promotion of the rule of law, promotion of development, economic cooperation, that cannot but benefit both sides, the Philippines and the European Union, even though geographically distant,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>US-Iran War: Calls for Deescalation</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773743029449IMG_1170.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. <em>Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Asked how the ASEAN and the EU could work together to cushion the impact of the ongoing US-Iran war, Santoro pointed to the convergence of both blocs&#x27; early statements on the crisis as a foundation for cooperation.</p><p>&quot;Comparing the two statements, you can really identify several elements of convergence on which the two organisations can work together. It&#x27;s about de-escalation. When there&#x27;s a situation on the field, it is about taking care of the respective citizens. It is about working together for defending the supply chains,&quot; Santoro said.</p><p>On the question of whether the EU might consider lifting sanctions on Russian oil as an alternative energy source, Santoro was categorical. </p><p>&quot;Definitely not,&quot; he said. &quot;We do not consider that this is the right move, and we consider that sanctions against Russia are there and should stay there until there is an ongoing aggression of Russia against Ukraine. This is the basis for our action there, and there is no, so far, element that would justify moving in a different direction.&quot;</p><p>Instead, the EU is weighing the possible extension of its ASPIDES naval operation, initially launched in the Red Sea to safeguard freedom of navigation, to the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical transit route for 20% of the world&#x27;s oil that has become an active conflict zone amidst the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. </p><p>Santoro confirmed that EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday to discuss the matter, as US President Donald Trump continues to press other countries to help secure the transit route.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/16/trump-says-we-re-talking-to-iran-but-it-s-not-ready-for-deal-to-end-war-0950">Trump says &#x27;we&#x27;re talking&#x27; to Iran but it&#x27;s not &#x27;ready&#x27; for deal to end war</a></div><p>&quot;There was a clear sense that something has to be done in order to reinforce this operation,&quot; he said, adding that talks on increasing the number of EU vessels in the Strait were ongoing.</p><p>On citizen welfare, Santoro confirmed that the Philippines and the EU had already cooperated on extending visas for nationals stranded by the conflict, and that repatriation efforts were ongoing on both sides.</p><p>&quot;Together with the Philippine side, we have the possibility to extend, indeed, the duration of the visa for the time necessary, of course, for citizens who are stranded here. I think that similar measures, of course, are being taken care of on our other side. In Europe, as you know, visa in itself is a competence of the European Union, single member states within the Schengen area often, but again, the action is a similar one. I think that what you are offering is a concrete example of how we can help the situation of citizens who are stranded,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/17/western-allies-push-back-on-trump-call-for-nato-help-to-reopen-hormuz-0056">Western allies push back on Trump call for NATO help to reopen Hormuz</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>South China Sea: EU Support for the 2016 Arbitral Award and UNCLOS</strong></div><p>Santoro left little room for ambiguity when asked about the EU&#x27;s position on the South China Sea, reaffirming Brussels&#x27; support for UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, while expressing confidence in the Philippines&#x27; ability to advance a Code of Conduct during its ASEAN chairmanship.</p><p>&quot;We are a strong supporter of UNCLOS, and we are also a strong supporter of the award of the Tribunal of 2016,&quot; he said. &quot;This means that we cannot but look with interest to the negotiations on a code of conduct, and we are sure that the Philippines will be doing an excellent job in this direction.&quot;</p><p>He acknowledged the difficulty of completing the code of conduct negotiations within the year but stopped short of dismissing the possibility. </p><p>What was clear, he said, was that the EU&#x27;s support for Manila&#x27;s efforts was unconditional: &quot;The Philippines cannot but enjoy our support in its endeavors for this code.&quot;</p><p>Santoro also offered a notably pragmatic explanation for why a bloc geographically distant from the South China Sea has such a strong stake in its stability. </p><p>&quot;More than 30% of the goods that go to Europe actually pass via the South China Sea,&quot; he said. &quot;So there are also, if you want, very practical and pragmatic reasons beyond the important value and political dimension.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/16/west-ph-sea-patrols-continue-amid-hefty-oil-prices-ph-navy-1403">&#x27;Sovereignty has no price&#x27;: West PH Sea patrols continue amid hefty oil prices - PH Navy</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>EU-Philippines Cooperation: Concrete and Growing</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773743054728IMG_1192.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro at ABS-CBN. <em>Mike Bagtas, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Santoro also provided updates on how the EU-Philippines security and defense dialogue, launched following High Representative Kallas&#x27;s Manila visit in June 2025, has progressed.</p><p>The first formal meeting of the dialogue took place in Brussels on November 25 last year, he said, where both sides identified concrete areas for cooperation: cyber issues, foreign information manipulation and interference, hybrid threats, and maritime cooperation. A second meeting is being scheduled in Manila for later this year.</p><p>&quot;I am very happy because the follow-up and concrete cooperation with concrete projects and initiatives on the four areas that I mentioned is already ongoing,&quot; Santoro said. He noted that the two sides had already co-chaired events together, including a joint initiative in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February.</p><p>When asked whether the dialogue could eventually produce a formal defense agreement, Santoro explained that a framework has yet to be determined by all parties, but it is easy to be optimistic. </p><p>&quot;Step by step,&quot; he said. &quot;When it is about the security and defense dimension, there is a plurality of initiatives that we are putting together, even beyond the security and defense dialogue, in terms of also enhancing the capacity of the European Union to support the Philippines. How to frame, how to define them is still being considered by the two sides, but I&#x27;m very positive on the fact that there is only one direction that we have to go, which is to enhance what we are already doing.&quot;</p><p>As for ongoing negotiations on Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the Philippines, Santoro confirmed that negotiations held in Brussels two weeks ago were &quot;very fruitful,&quot; and that another round is scheduled in Manila in May. Without naming a deadline, he nonetheless allowed himself a clear expression of intent. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/22/eu-ph-free-trade-deal-moves-to-next-round-2103">EU-PH free trade deal moves to next round</a></div><p>&quot;I really wish to hope that this is the right year, the good year, to complete negotiations,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#x27;s really in the interest of both sides, in particular in the current geopolitical and geoeconomic context.&quot;</p><p>Santoro framed the agreement as a natural fit precisely because the two economies are complementary rather than competitive. </p><p>&quot;There are goods and services that the European Union can offer to the Philippines which the Philippines has not. And there are goods and services that the Philippines can offer to the European Union that Europe has not,&quot; he said. &quot;This generates an amazing, of course, attraction for this agreement.&quot;</p><p>He singled out Filipino talent and English proficiency as particular assets for European firms. </p><p>&quot;This agreement will be an amazing enabler for job creation. This is an aspect that I wish to underline because it&#x27;s an aspect that goes in both directions. Most importantly, the European Union will benefit from the amazing expertise and skills of Filipinos who are particularly proficient also with the English language, which is an advantage that not every country has,&quot; he said.</p><p>On the broader strategic logic, why the EU needs to expand into markets like the Philippines now, Santoro was direct: diversification. </p><p>&quot;Because of the need to diversify, because we believe in a world where trade is free,&quot; he said, adding that a finalized FTA would not only benefit bilateral trade but make Philippine enterprises more competitive globally. </p><p>&quot;This will, for the Philippine enterprise, generate an enormous potential, not only towards the European Union, but more in general, to export anywhere else.&quot;</p><p>On Tuesday, European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro also paid his first visit to a Philippine broadcast media network and met with ABS-CBN Chairman Mark Lopez, President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Head of Corporate Communications Kane Choa and Head of News Francis Toral.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dg40A0geueY?si=BaAlxisjRGqq_We4" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div>

<p>EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro paid his first visit to a local broadcast media network on Tuesday.</p>

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro paid his first visit to a local broadcast media network on Tuesday.

EU eyes deeper ties with Philippines amid global challenges, says Ambassador Santoro

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EU eyes deeper ties with Philippines amid global challenges, says Ambassador Santoro

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 17, 2026 04:31 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 17, 2026 06:24 PM PHT

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European Union

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Philippines

ASEAN

US-Iran war

Strait of Hormuz

ASPIDES

Russia

free trade agreement

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