Manila, April 16 -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday deployed a 72-member mission to observe the conduct of the upcoming midterm elections in May, following an invitation from the Philippine government.

The mission's members, representing experts from all 27 EU member states, will observe the polls in pairs and cover all regions in the country, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Deputy Chief Observer Manuel Sanchez de Nogues said the mission is the first in the Philippines and one of the largest the bloc has deployed to date.

In an interview in Makati City, the executive said the EU sees this invitation as a "sign" of the Philippine government's openness to cooperate with the bloc.

"We're indepe...