Taipei: A European Parliament (EP) delegation led by European Taiwan Friendship Group Chair Michael Gahler is visiting Taiwan from Sunday through Friday, with scheduled meetings with President Lai Ching-te and other senior officials to discuss issues of mutual concern. This visit marks the first EP delegation to the country in 2026, as detailed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in a press release on Monday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the delegation consists mainly of members from the European People's Party and aims to strengthen relations between Taiwan and the European Union. The 10-member parliamentary group is set to meet with key figures including Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, representatives from the Legislative Yuan, and officials from the National Security Council, Mainland Affairs Council, as well as the economics and defense ministries.
The delegation's agenda also includes discussions with local academics and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), focusing on countering disinformation and cyberattacks, enhancing whole-of-society resilience, and exploring Taiwan-EU economic cooperation. Additionally, they will engage in dialogues concerning Indo-Pacific and cross-strait issues.
The delegation plans to visit the offshore county of Kinmen before concluding their trip on Friday. The visiting EP members include Sven Simon, Wouter Beke, Christophe Gomart, Marion Walsmann, Iuliu Winkler, Michal Szczerba, and Jan Farsk½, as reported by MOFA.