The European Commission, the executive arm of the 15-member EU, passed a proposal Tuesday to open a trade representative office in Taiwan.
The recommendation was part of a plan to restructure the EU's overseas representative offices.
The restructuring plan will be referred to the European Parliament, the EU's legislative arm, and the EU's decision-making Council of Ministers for final approval.
The European Commission said the restructuring plan is aimed at formulating a package of standards to evaluate where the EU should open representative offices and where its existing liaison offices should be closed to facilitate the union's goal to expand its role in the world community.
The standards will include trade volume, distribution of EU aid, the political importance of individual countries, and other relevant elements. The EU now maintains representative offices in 123 countries and five international organizations.
"In view of Taiwan's expected accession to the World Trade Organization and the European Commission's role in managing trade relations, we hope to open a trade representative office in Taiwan," the commission said in its recommendation.
In addition, the commission said it plans to open representative offices in Malaysia and Singapore in view of Southeast Asia's increasing role in global trade.
As the EU has offered large amount of aid to Nepal, Laos and Cambodia, the commission said it intends to open representative offices in the three Asian countries to facilitate handling of aid affairs.
Meanwhile, the commission said it also wants to open representative offices in Saudi Arabia, Paraguay and Cuba.
RSS