EU grants visa-free entry to ROC (Taiwan) nationals

By Elaine Hou

The EU Council of Ministers voted unanimously to include Taiwan in its visa-waiver program Nov. 25, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Chin-tien Yang.

“We welcome the decision and expect it to take effect by the end of next January,” Yang said. “ROC nationals will soon be able to visit 35 countries in Europe without a visa.”

The 90-day visa-waiver covers the Schengen area—22 EU member states and non-EU members Iceland, Norway and Switzerland—as well as non-Schengen EU members Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania. The exemption also applies to Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that Taiwanese travelers will save at least NT$1 billion (US$32.86 million) in Schengen-visa application fees annually as a result of the decision.

“The ROC now enjoys visa-free entry or landing visas for 96 countries or territories,” Yang said. “These destinations account for 94 percent of visits by our nationals.”

The minister sees the EU visa-waiver program as conducive to obtaining visa exemption for six Balkan countries, including Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.
Yang said in addition to these nations, the government is continuing efforts to obtain visa-free entry for countries frequently visited by ROC nationals, including Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and U.S.

Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan), 26.11.10

Die Presseabteilung der Taipeh Vertretung mit Sitz in Berlin bietet folgende Dienstleistungen an: Erläuterung der Politik und der Entwicklung der Republik China (Taiwan), Verbreitung von Stellungnahmen und Pressemitteilungen von taiwanischer Seite sowie Beantwortung von Fragen über das Land;
Angebot von Informationsmaterial über Taiwan in deutscher, englischer, und chinesischer Sprache (Broschüren, Filme, Videos, DVDs, Diafilme, CDs);
Anlaufstelle für deutsche Medienvertreter, Angebot von Informationsreisen nach Taiwan für deutsche Journalisten;
Organisation von Veranstaltungen mit dem Ziel, Kontakte zwischen Deutschland und Taiwan zu vertiefen (Vorträge, Seminare, Ausstellungen, Filmfestivals etc.);
Sonstige Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Presseabteilung Taipeh Vertretung
Markgrafenstr. 35
10117 Berlin

This release was published on openPR.