By Martin Banks - 24th November 2010
The proposal is expected to be approved without anydebate
Taiwan official
Taiwan's 'ambassador' to the EU says the recently-agreed visa waiver scheme for his country's citizens is of "utmost importance."
David Lin said he was "convinced" the process would be successful in attracting more Taiwan visitors to the EU.
His comments come after it emerged that the final step of Taiwan's inclusion in the EU visa-waiver programme will be moved forward by a week to this Thursday so that it can take effect as soon as possible.
The vote was originally scheduled for 2 December at a session of EU justice ministers but Taiwan has lobbied to move it forward to a session of the competitiveness council tomorrow.
The proposal is expected to be approved by "acceptance without discussion."
"Since the proposal is expected to be approved without any debate, it doesn't matter which council screens it," said a Taiwan official.
By accelerating the screening process, Taiwan hopes that the ensuing translation of the documents into different EU member languages and other administrative procedures will be completed by Christmas so that the proposal can be adopted by the end of the year, he said.
The vote will be the final hurdle after the proposal cleared the European parliament's committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs by a 47-1 vote on 26 October and the parliament plenary by a 559-40 margin with 13 abstentions on 11 November.
Visa waiver means that Taiwanese nationals will be able to enter European countries included in the visa-free programme and stay for up to 90 days within a six-month period.
The exemption will apply to 25 Schengen area countries, comprising 22 EU member states and three-non EU states, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, and three non-Schengen EU member states, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Taiwan president Ma Ying-Jeou has denounced North Korea over the artillery attack launched a day earlier against South Korea that resulted in at least two deaths.
"We condemn North Korea," Ma said.
North Korea shelled the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong near their disputed western border Tuesday, after Seoul ignored Pyongyang's demand that it stop military drills in the area.
The South later responded by firing back at the North. Two South Korean marines were confirmed as killed. The extent of casualties on the northern side was unclear.
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