Brussels ( Brussels Morning) –Taipei – EU Parliament delegation visits Taiwan, discussing political, economic, and human rights issues, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation and democratic values.
Today, A delegation from the EU Parliament reached Taiwan for a four-day visit to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other high-level administration officials. During the discussions, the meetings will include topics such as the latest political and economic actions in Taiwan, economic and trade connections between the European Union and Taiwan, and human rights and environmental protection.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen described a European Parliament delegation that she looks forward to more intimate bilateral cooperation in the areas of false information precluding, supply chain security, and business and trade. Tsai conveyed to visiting European representatives that, in the face of the expansion of tyranny and the threat of disinformation, Taiwan has intensified cooperation with other democratic nations to jointly protect regional democracy, freedom and stable development. She stated the visit would help boost exchanges on issues of common concern, according to a statement from her office.
The visiting delegation includes Reinhard Bütikofer, Till Steffen of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Boris Mijatovic from the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid for the Alliance 90, Agnieszka Brugger of the German Greens parliamentary group, and Heidi Hautala, the EU Parliament vice-president. The officials are also arranged to meet with several civil society and environmental groups to get a sounder grasp of Taiwan’s geo-political as well as domestic situation. Despite lacking formal diplomatic connections, Taiwan has fostered good relations with the European Union over the last decade. Last month the EP adopted resolutions voicing concern over China’s aggression over the Taiwan Strait. Likewise, Taiwan welcomed resolutions to heighten comprehensive partnerships with the EU.
Reinhard Bütikofer expressed that the European Union’s cooperation with Taiwan is based on shared values of human rights, democracy and “the value of the rule of law. And on that basis, we build our solidarity.” Heidi Hautala, a Finnish Green Party member and vice president of the European Parliament as well as three other German Green Party lawmakers, along with Bütikofer, met with Tsai. Bütikofer expressed the visit also aims to enhance opportunities for substantive cooperation with Taiwan and strengthen the Taiwan-EU partnership. The delegation will also meet with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, other lawmakers and government officials.
In the last five years, the EU Parliament has adopted around 40 resolutions to cultivate good relations with Taiwan. In 2023 alone, Taiwan pledged 29 various economic agreements within the EU. Taiwan has seconded the EP resolutions declaring China’s claims “have no basis in international law,” and that ”neither Taiwan nor China is nether to the other, and that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can symbolise the Taiwanese people on the international stage.”
In 2022, one EP resolution criticised growing Chinese disruptions in the Pacific, stating that “the PRC’s provocative actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea must have consequences for EU-China ties and that the potential of contingency planning must be regarded.” Hautala is the second VP of the EU Parliament to visit Taiwan, following the visit of VP Nicola Beer two years ago, indicating a high level of attention and support for Taiwan.
The three distinguished members of the German Parliament have long been concerned about the situation in the Taiwan Strait, backed Taiwan’s international participation, and encouraged the deepening of bilateral relations between Taiwan and Germany.
