Your Excellency Minister Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, 

Fellow ambassadors, distinguished guests, dear friends,

It is an honour to stand before you once again as we gather to celebrate Europe Day here in Singapore. Thank you all for joining us this evening.

Europe Day marks the beginning of the European integration process 75 years ago. Ever since, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to peace, partnership and cooperation – both within our borders, and around the world.

We believe in multilateralism, the rules-based international order, and its global institutions. We uphold fair trade, guided by rules, as the basis for shared prosperity. As the world’s largest provider of development assistance, we are a vital partner to many nations. And we continue to stand at the forefront of the fight against climate change.

Yet, the world around us is evolving rapidly. We feel it every day. And I see it even more when I look back at my term in Singapore, which will draw to a close later this year.

When I arrived in September 2021, the pandemic, which took such a heavy toll on our people, societies and economies, was still very much a reality. One of my first major tasks was to facilitate the mutual recognition of Covid-19 certificates – a breakthrough we achieved with Singapore as our very first partner in Asia – and which allowed for limited travel to resume in both directions.

When, in February 2022, Russia unleashed its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Singapore and the European Union stood shoulder to shoulder – united in condemning this violation of international law and the principles we all hold dear. And we consistently uphold these values, wherever they are put at risk.

Both the EU and Singapore are adapting to the new political realities – by strengthening our capacity to defend ourselves and by broadening and deepening our network of partners. In an increasingly contested and unstable world, this is more important than ever.

Throughout these challenges, our ties have only grown stronger. 

Singapore is our largest trade and investment partner in Southeast Asia, with over €130 billion in goods and services exchanged in 2023. Our Free Trade Agreement, in force for 5 years, continues to open up new opportunities to deepen and diversify our relationship further. More than 12,000 EU companies now have a presence here, serving Singapore and the wider region. Quite a few of them are represented here tonight – welcome.

Just yesterday, we reached another milestone: the signing of the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement by European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Minister Grace Fu. We are therefore especially honoured by your presence this evening, dear Minister. Thank you for the outstanding cooperation in so many different policy areas that fall within your remit.

This the first Digital Trade Agreement that we have with any partner in the world. And it is a particular joy for me to witness it come to life after a short but intense negotiation – as ambassadors usually only get to start a process, not see it through.

Throughout my tenure and by the end of this summer, we will have welcomed 15 visits by European Commissioners with portfolios ranging from trade and finance to digital and agriculture, and including three by our High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. We helped facilitate numerous meetings and calls between our top leaders, hosted several delegations from the European Parliament and countless senior officials for various dialogues and other engagements.

Cultural diplomacy was admittedly not the first thing on my mind when I came to Singapore, which still has a reputation of being all about business and geopolitics. And yet, my team and I worked to promote European culture in new and innovative ways. To the point that – for the first time in our Delegation’s 20-year history – we received the ‘Friend of the Arts’ award from the National Arts Council.

I have had the privilege of witnessing a number of key moments in Singapore’s history: the inauguration of a new Prime Minister for the first time in two decades, the election of a new President, a general election just a few days ago, the ongoing celebrations of the 60^th year of Singapore’s independence, and even a visit by His Holiness Pope Francis.

For me and my family Singapore has been, for almost four years, ‘home, truly’.

We enjoyed decorating the EU residence for Singapore’s festive occasions, delving into the country’s vibrant cultural landscape, and discovering its nature.

Above all, we have treasured the warmth, the strength of character, and the professionalism of our Singaporean colleagues and friends – always polite, well-prepared, outstanding.

I am proud to have played a small part in strengthening the bonds between the EU and Singapore by bringing people together, in government and beyond, to establish deeper mutual understanding and the sense that our destinies are deeply linked.

Whenever possible, my team and I have made it a point to showcase Singapore’s incredible culture and cuisine to our visitors – leading to the occasional sight of large groups of suited-up Europeans exploring the marvellous Gardens by the Bay, neighbourhood hawker centres, or the streets of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam.

I am not leaving just yet, and I look forward to continuing our intense work over the coming months. But I can already say that I will always cherish the memories of Singapore and look back with pride at what we have accomplished together – as partners, and as friends.

Allow me, therefore, to express my gratitude.

First, to Team Europe: our EU Member States’ missions and my fellow European ambassadors, the EU business community and our chambers of commerce – it is a great pleasure to work alongside you and I am very proud of the progress we have made.

To the wider diplomatic community and especially my ASEAN counterparts – thank you for your friendship and support of so many of our initiatives over the years, from planting trees to cycling in the heat of Pulau Ubin.

But above all, I thank our colleagues across Singapore’s ministries that we work with every day – from MFA, to MTI, MSE, MOT, MINDEF, MDDI and beyond – as well as the always-effective government agencies. Singapore’s reputation for excellence in public service is truly well-deserved and I thank you for the partnership and collaboration. 

I also wish to thank Singapore’s business community, its brilliant think tanks, researchers, journalists, artists, innovators, civil society organisations – and so many energetic women leaders – you all contribute to making this place so special.

Moreover, I thank the people of Singapore, whose warmth and openness have made my life and work a joy and a privilege. Some of you have become friends for life and I thank you for being here tonight.

Back to tonight’s celebration: A heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors and partners, who are making this evening possible. Our corporate sponsors are Airbus, BNP Paribas and EuroCham Singapore.

Thank you to the German European School Singapore and its students for creating the beautiful backdrop behind me and for performing the anthems later. And to the Asia-Europe Foundation for organising tonight’s musical performance.

Thanks to our in-kind sponsors, Backshop Asia and BeerCellar Asia, Sedno, Ecolah, and Agora Products. In addition, our carefully crafted menu will bring you to all the geographic corners of the EU.

Finally, I would like to thank my team at the EU Delegation, for today, but also for four years of hard work, succinct political and economic analysis, identifying new cooperation avenues, and organising excellent events – all underpinned by tireless administrative work, including by Mr Mui Mok, who recently retired after 18 years of service. Once again, thank you very much.

Minister Fu, Excellencies, distinguished guests, friends,

We are now going to listen to the National Anthem of the Republic of Singapore, which will be performed by Zoe Wilcox of the German European School Singapore.

Following the performance of the National Anthem, I would like to propose a toast to His Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, and to the people of Singapore.