ON EUROPE DAY:
The occasion was ‘bittersweet,’ the head of the EU’s trade office said, as Taiwan Stands With Ukraine raised funds for an ambulance
The European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei yesterday celebrated Europe Day and the 20th anniversary of its establishment at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei with a special focus on Ukraine.
Office Director Filip Grzegorzewski said the organizers invited members of the Ukrainian community in Taiwan to set up a stall at the event to show solidarity with the country’s fight to protect democracy, human rights and the rule of law — values shared by Taiwan and Europe — as it seeks to repel Russia’s invasion.
Grzegorzewski said the event was “bittersweet.”
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
“On the one hand, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the EU’s presence in Taiwan, 20 years in which our relationship has only gotten stronger and deeper, but on the other hand, the unthinkable in Europe has happened. War has returned to Europe on a scale that we had not witnessed since the end of the Second World War,” he said.
Grzegorzewski invited visitors to visit the Ukrainian stall and the festival’s nearly 100 other stalls serving food and drinks, and showcasing European culture.
Relations between Taiwan and Europe have made significant progress over the past few years, as evidenced by the 19 resolutions passed last year by the European Parliament and several national parliaments supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said.
Wu highlighted frequent visits by delegations of European officials to Taiwan, the government’s plan to establish a representative office in Milan, Italy, and the commencement of direct flights between Taipei and Prague in July.
SHARED VALUES
“As a force for good, Taiwan is committed to working closely with Europe and all democratic partners to safeguard our shared values and much cherished democratic way of life,” Wu said.
“We will continue to steadfastly support Ukraine in resisting authoritarian expansionism,” he added.
At the stall set up by the group Taiwan Stands With Ukraine, bilateral friendship-themed products were sold as part of a campaign to raise about NT$140,000 to purchase an ambulance for Ukraine. It would be the second ambulance funded by the Taiwanese public to be sent to the war-torn country.
One of the stall’s patrons, Johnny Lei (雷英敏), said he purchased a T-shirt bearing a print to show Taiwan’s solidarity with Ukraine and two packs of drip bag coffee, spending NT$1,150 in total.
Lei said he donated an additional NT$2,000 to support the fundraiser.
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