Taiwan lawmakers have launched a bipartisan group to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and the European Union. The Taiwan-Europe Interparliamentary Amity Association is led by DPP lawmaker Tsai Shih-ying. Its members include independent lawmaker Freddy Lim and KMT lawmaker Charles Chen. At the inauguration ceremony, lawmakers hailed recent advances in Taiwan-EU relations.

A new parliamentary friendship association was inaugurated on Monday. At the launch ceremony, lawmaker Tsai Shih-ying and the EU’s representative to Taiwan exchanged gifts. The atmosphere was convivial, reflecting warming relations between the two sides.

Tsai Shih-ying
DPP lawmaker
At the U.S.-EU summit, the two sides reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We are also very grateful that in October, the European Parliament adopted a report on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation. Ties between Taiwan and the EU are making great advances, and we hope the relationship between the two in various fields can continue deepening in the future.

Filip Grzegorzewski
EU representative to Taiwan
For the European Union, Taiwan is a reliable and valued like-minded partner in the region. The Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly important for the European Union. The EU is stepping up strategic engagement in and with the Indo-Pacific, bilaterally, including with Taiwan, regionally as well as multilaterally.

The representative said that the EU should further strengthen its ties with Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Over the past few years, the EU has solidified its friendship with Taiwan. Last year, the EU passed several pro-Taiwan provisions. Last November, a delegation from the European Parliament visited Taiwan. Former envoy to the EU, Tseng Ho-jen, said he was very moved by the recent developments.

Tseng Ho-jen
Deputy foreign minister
Last year, the European Parliament passed 13 pro-Taiwan resolutions. The one we’re most familiar with was approved in October. It was called the EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation report. It marked the first time that the European Parliament passed an official text on its relations with the government of Taiwan. It was extremely significant.

Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar
Vice chair of EP-Taiwan Friendship Group
That’s why we call Japan, India, New Zealand, Australia, us too, the European Union to stand up against Chinese aggression towards the status quo of Taiwan in the international community.

The chairman and vice chair of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group addressed the lawmakers via a prerecorded video. As likeminded partners in democracy and human rights, Europe and Taiwan are growing closer and closer.