September 29, 2015
No. 199
Member of the European Parliament Boleslaw G. Piecha will, at the invitation of the ROC government, lead a nine-member delegation from the parliament’s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group to Taiwan, from September 27 to October 2, 2015. The purpose is to give the delegation a better understanding of the latest developments in Taiwan in terms of the economy, politics, and cross-strait relations, and further promote ties between the European Union and Taiwan.
The delegation will have an audience with President Ma Ying-jeou and call at the Legislative Yuan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Council of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Administration, the Mainland Affairs Council, the Department of Gender Equality at the Executive Yuan, and the European Economic and Trade Office. Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin will also host a banquet in their honor. In addition, the delegation will visit National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the National Palace Museum, and other sites of cultural interest.
The third largest political group in the European Parliament, the ECR has consistently been a close friend, frequently providing assistance with promoting resolutions favorable to Taiwan. Over the past seven years, the European Parliament has adopted nine such resolutions, including to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization, commend the East China Sea Peace Initiative proposed by President Ma, as well as urge the signing of an EU-Taiwan bilateral investment agreement that would further cement the cooperative ties between the two sides.(E)