President Ma Ying-jeou met with a delegation from the European Parliament Taiwan Friendship Group at the Presidential Office Building on the morning of March 31. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended a warm welcome to the delegation on their trip to Taiwan.
The president remarked that the European Parliament has strongly supported various initiatives important to Taiwan in recent years. In addition, he noted that the body each year forms a delegation to visit Taiwan and that it has made outstanding contributions to promoting ties. The president commented that Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng led a delegation to the European Parliament in February of last year. The president noted how this was an extremely successful example of parliamentary diplomacy. Meanwhile, also in February last year, the European Parliament passed a resolution supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations. At the same time, it also expressed its support for Taiwan's move to promote improvement in cross-strait relations. In May of last year, Taiwan was able to attend the World Health Assembly convened by the World Health Organization, he said. In addition, the European Parliament also specially congratulated him on the anniversary of his inauguration. The president said that in May of this year, the European Parliament expressed its strong support for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization. All of this demonstrates increased friendliness by the European Parliament towards Taiwan, he said.
President Ma stated that southern Taiwan in early August last year experienced devastating landslides and flooding due to the torrential rains brought by Typhoon Morakot. At that time, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso sent his regards to Taiwan, and Poland and Germany also provided considerable technical assistance and donations. The president reiterated his gratitude on behalf of the people of Taiwan for these gestures.
President Ma and members of the delegation then exchanged opinions on a wide range of political and cross-strait topics. The delegation was led by Laima Liucija Andrikiene, Vice Chairperson of the European Parliament Taiwan Friendship Group, Vice Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, and member of the Committee on International Trade. Also in the delegation was Mario Mauro, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Salvatore Iacolino, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs; and Bastiaan Belder, Vice Chairman of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The delegation was escorted by Vice Foreign Minister Lyushun Shen and European Economic and Trade Office Head Guy Ledoux to the Presidential Office Building in the morning. Also in attendance at the meeting with the president was National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen.