Parliamentary questions
WRITTEN QUESTION P-1432/97
by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Commission
(16 April 1997)

Subject: Taiwan

In July 1996, Parliament adopted resolution B4-0877/96 (1) on Taiwan's role in international organizations. In addition and subsequently, a new budget line (B7-6601) created in the 1997 budget by Parliament provides the Commission with the framework for the establishment of a EU/Taiwan cooperation agreement, including the opening of an EU office in Taipei.

What actions has the Commission undertaken so far to implement both the resolution and the B7-6601 budget line?

What measures have been adopted with a view to opening the EU office in Taipei?

Furthermore, could the Commission indicate what the status is of the EU-Taiwan meetings, the EU-Taiwan cooperation in the field of science and technology, and the cooperation with the universities of Taiwan?

(1) OJ C 261, 9.9.1996, p. 169.

P-1432/97EN
Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan
on behalf of the Commission
(13 May 1997)

Although there are no meetings with the Taiwan authorities at Community level, the Commission does maintain links with Taiwan consistent with the absence of diplomatic recognition. The main link is an annual commercial consultation meeting between the Commission and Taiwan, which discusses matters of mutual interest in the commercial sphere. In addition, the Commission maintains contacts with interested parties in Taiwan in areas including science and technology and European studies, which focus on building ties between Community universities and their Taiwan counterparts. The Commission also pursues close contacts with Taiwan in the current negotiations on WTO accession.

The action proposed to the Commission in resolution B4-0877/96 is the adoption of measures with a view to the opening of a Commission information office in Taipei. The Commission believes that (resources permitting) there is a good case for establishing an office to pursue Community commercial and cooperation policies in Taipei. Such an office could operate on the same informal basis as the commercial and other offices which many countries maintain in Taiwan, including most Member States. Such an office could already perform useful tasks under the current Community market access strategy, and would certainly be even more important once Taiwan is a member of WTO. The opening of an office limited to information work would not be cost-effective.

No resources were allocated to budget line B7-6601 under the 1997 budget, so no action has yet been taken.