President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday conferred the Order of Brilliant Star With Violet Grand Cordon on Madeleine Majorenko, outgoing director of the European Economic and Trade Office, for her contributions to promoting bilateral relations.
Majorenko assumed the post in July 2015 and is to step down later this month.
“It’s a personal pleasure for me to receive an award from you,” Majorenko told Tsai during the ceremony at the Presidential Office Building, adding that during her time in Taiwan, she has witnessed Tsai’s inauguration and the work that her administration has done, which has seen Taiwan flourish.
Photo: CNA
Majorenko said that she has been in Taiwan for four years and has had a lot of fun aside from all the hard work, because Taiwan and the EU have achieved much together, including holding dialogues on different subjects.
Many have asked her what she would miss most about Taiwan, and there are many things, but she would especially miss the people, Majorenko said.
Taiwanese are hardworking, innovative and always committed to serving, which is one strength, she said, adding that another is their warmth, friendliness and openness.
However, the one strength that the nation has that is undeniable is its democratic system, respect for human rights, rule of law and democracy, Majorenko said.
That is why the EU deems Taiwan a like-minded partner, she added.
With such people, democracy and human rights, the future of Taiwan is bright and bilateral relations between Taiwan and the EU will go from strength to strength, Majorenko said.
“I’m very proud to be here with such an incredible female president in Taiwan,” she added.
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white
EVA Airways, one of the leading international carriers in Taiwan, yesterday said that it was investigating reports that a cabin crew manager had ignored the condition of a sick flight attendant, who died on Saturday. The airline made the statement in response to a post circulating on social media that said that the flight attendant on an outbound flight was feeling sick and notified the cabin crew manager. Although the flight attendant grew increasingly ill on the return flight, the manager did not contact Medlink — a system that connects the aircraft to doctors on the ground for treatment advice during medical
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
RSS