May 19, 2017
No.077
MEP Anna Fotyga, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence, is leading a three-member EP delegation to Taiwan from May 19 to 22, 2017, at the invitation of the government of the Republic of China. The visit will give the delegation a better understanding of Taiwan’s current national defense and foreign affairs policies, as well as current cross-strait relations.
While in Taiwan, the delegation will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, call at the National Security Council and Mainland Affairs Council, and attend a reception hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They will also exchange views on Asia-Pacific security issues with the Prospect Foundation. In addition, the delegation will visit other sites of cultural and economic interest, such as the National Palace Museum, National Center for Traditional Arts, Lanyang Museum, and Taipei 101.
The European Parliament comprises 751 MEPs, representing the more than 500 million people of the 28 European Union member countries. On multiple occasions, the EP has passed friendly resolutions regarding Taiwan, including support for Taiwan’s participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization, Schengen visa-waiver treatment for ROC citizens, and the signing of a Taiwan-EU economic cooperation agreement. The EP has also affirmed the positive development of cross-strait relations and called on the European Commission to launch negotiations with Taiwan on an investment protection and market access agreement. It also adopted a resolution on July 5 last year, calling on the European Commission to expedite negotiations with Taiwan on a bilateral investment agreement.
The European Union is Taiwan’s fifth largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the EU’s seventh largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade reaching US$48.9 billion in 2016. European enterprises are also Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment, with total investments reaching US$41.3 billion as of the end of February 2017, bearing testimony to the strength of Taiwan-EU economic relations. In addition, recent years have seen the two sides further expand cooperation in such areas as science and technology, environmental protection, education, customs and tariffs, information and communications technology, mutual judicial assistance, youth working holidays, food safety, innovation, and research, thereby deepening the partnership between Taiwan and the European Union. (E)