IPAC Calls for EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement
To:
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission
Charles Michel
President of the European Council
Valdis Dombrovskis
European Commissioner for Trade
CC:
Josep Borrell Fontelles
High Representative for Foreign Affairs / Vice-President of the European Commission
September 21, 2022
Re: EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement
Dear President Von der Leyen, President Michel, Vice-President & Trade Commissioner Dombrovskis,
We are writing to urge you to make haste with the EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement. For decades, the relationship with Taiwan has been very stable, fruitful and of major importance. Now is the time to enhance and deepen the longstanding and comprehensive economic partnership with Taiwan, a full member of the WTO.
Taiwan is a key partner and democratic ally in the Indo-Pacific. A robust democracy and technologically highly advanced economy that contributes to maintaining the rules based order in the midst of an increasingly antagonistic environment. The EU has been the largest source of foreign direct investment in Taiwan, at the same time there is a high potential to increase Taiwan’s FDI in the EU. Taiwan’s dominance in the semiconductor industry is remarkable. To deepen our relationship with our democratic Taiwanese friends would not only be mutually beneficial but also of great geo-economic importance, as the EU is greatly dependent on highly advanced semiconductors produced in Taiwan.
Therefore, we urge you to intensify the Trade and Investment Dialogue with the Taiwanese authorities to deepen the bilateral economic ties and to finally start structured dialogue on the EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA). Such a BIA should cover cooperation in green technology, resilient supply chains and the digital economy, including the semiconductor industry.
We want to underscore the importance, particularly in the light of the PRC’s continued provocations and military build-up, of further advancing the EU-Taiwan partnership and cooperation built on mutual economic benefit, democratic friendship and the upholding of the rules-based world order.
Sincerely,
Sjoerd Sjoerdsma MP, Netherlands
François-Xavier Bellamy MEP, European Parliament
Ondřej Benešík MP, Czechia
Michael Brand MdB, Germany
Reinhard Bütikofer MEP, European Parliament
Senator Jerry Buttimer, Ireland
Senator Olivier Cadic, France
Samuel Cogolati MP, Belgium
Georges Dallemagne MP, Belgium
Engin Eroglu MEP, European Parliament
Senator Pavel Fischer, Czech Republic
Anna Fotyga MEP, European Parliament
Senator André Gattolin, France
Alexander Hammelburg MP, Netherlands
Uffe Elbaek MP, Denmark
Gyde Jensen MdB, Germany
Mykola Knyzhytski MP, Ukraine
Tom van der Lee MP, Netherlands
David Lega MEP, European Parliament
Miriam Lexmann MEP, European Parliament
Senator Michael McDowell, Ireland
Guri Melby MP, Norway
Oleksandr Merezhko MP, Ukraine
Antonio Miloshoski MP, North Macedonia
Alexandru Muraru MP, Romania
Mr. Müller-Rosentritt MdB, Germany
Senator David Norris, Ireland
Žygimantas Pavilionis MP, Lithuania
Dovile Šakalienė MP, Lithuania
Ms Michaela Šojdrová, MEP, European Parliament
Cătălin Teniță MP, Romania
Niels Paarup-Petersen MP, Sweden
Senator Barry Ward, Ireland
Charlie Weimers MEP, European Parliament
Senator André Vallini, France