A report adopted by the European Parliament including articles calling for closer economic relations with Taiwan is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said July 5.
Passed earlier the same day in a 458-51 vote with 124 abstentions, the report on Indo-Pacific strategy for trade and investment urged the EU to launch structured dialogue with Taiwan on cooperation in green technology, digital economy and the semiconductor industry, as well as building resilient supply chains, trading medical supplies and dealing with global health crises.
The report additionally called for the EU to sign a mutually beneficial memorandum of understanding with the country while kick-starting an impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise on a bilateral investment agreement.
According to the MOFA, this marks the sixth time the EP has passed reports or resolutions backing Taiwan this year, following the resolution on violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong in January, the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defense Policy reports in February, the report on strengthening the EU’s response to foreign interference in democracy in March and the report on the EU and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific in June. These all demonstrate the EP’s rock-solid support for Taiwan and the importance the legislative body places on the country’s contributions to global strategic industries, the ministry added.
Taiwan and the EU share the universal values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of law, the MOFA said, adding that as a responsible member of the global community, the country will continue working with like-minded partners such as the EU to safeguard the rules-based international order while promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “We welcome @Europarl_En’s #IndoPacific trade & investment strategy report in which the #EU is urged to work closely with #Taiwan in green technology, digital economy, semiconductor industry, resilient supply chains, medical supplies & pursue a BIA.”
Source: Taiwan.gov.tw
