BRUSSELS, Belgium (The Adobo Chronicles, Berlin Bureau) – The Philippines may not become the 51st state of the United States but it could become the 28th state of the European Union (EU).

EU has taken a deep interest in the Philippines because of its strategic location in Asia Pacific, a region that the Union considers crucial to its global economic and other strategies.

EU is an economic and political union of 27 countries and operates a single, internal market which allows free movement of goods, capital, services and people between member states.  It used to have 28 member states before Great Britain withdrew from the alliance.

The latest intervening move of EU was to pass a resolution demanding the release from prison of Opposition Senator Leila De Lima, whom the Union believes could succeed President Rodrigo Duterte whose term ends in 2022.

Sources at EU told The Adobo Chronicles that De Lima is perceived to be an ally and, if elected the next President, could help facilitate the entry of the Philippines into the Union to replace Great Britain.

After Brexit, there’s Philentry.