May 4, 2015
No. 083
A delegation led by MEP Werner Langen, Chairman of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group, will visit the Republic of China from May 3 to 8, 2015.
The delegation will have an audience with President Ma Ying-jeou, and call at the Legislative Yuan, Mainland Affairs Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs, New Taipei City Government, Democratic Progressive Party and European Economic and Trade Office. In addition, the delegation will visit National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, Kenting, and Kaohsiung Harbor. Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin will host a banquet in their honor. This trip will provide the delegation the opportunity to gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s current political and economic trends, as well as recent developments in cross-strait relations.
Over the past few years, the European Parliament has adopted numerous resolutions favorable to Taiwan. At the same time, it has played an important role in securing Schengen visa waiver treatment for ROC passport holders, supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in such international organizations as the International Civil Aviation Organization, and backed the East China Sea Peace Initiative. In addition, many members of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group have issued constructive statements, spoken out in the parliament, and sent joint letters in support of Taiwan. MEP Langen and Dr. Georg Jarzembowski (former Chairman of the Friendship Group) have long been close friends of Taiwan. They have echoed the principles of the ROC East China Sea Peace Initiative and position on the South China Sea, and praised positive developments across the Taiwan Strait. Indeed, they have led efforts to deepen cordial ties between Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the European Parliament. (E)