This year has been a difficult one for not only Taiwan but also for the global economy. This has presented the ECCT with a number of challenges.
The recent legislative and county magistrates elections has heralded a new era in Taiwan's politics and will present the Chamber with the task of meeting new government officials in order to better understand these officials and their policy direction and to better familiarize new officials with the organiza-tion's activities.
This good relationship with the Taiwan government has been maintained through the ECCT's excellent government liaison efforts.
The quality and standard of ECCT activities has again improved. This year saw Premier Chang attend the Europe Day dinner. The ECCT has been fortunate in that many government officials have supported activities such as the Europe Day dinner and luncheons to provide members with high caliber events. In addition, a number of high profile business people, such as Morris Chang of TSMC have been luncheon speakers.
The quality of the ECCT's communications (Position Papers, Euroview, Government liaison) continues to improve. The ECCT's efforts into electronic communications has proved to be successful in not only providing timely information on ECCT activities but also in cutting costs. This trend will continue.
Our just completed Open Door Mission to Brussels again provided us with an excellent opportunity to consult with senior representatives of the European Commission including Commissioner of Trade, Pascal Lamy, on the Taiwan economic environment in general as well as on specific issues raised in our position papers.
Just prior to our trip to Brussels Taiwan's WTO application was approved at the meeting in Doha and Taiwan's formal accession on Jan 1, 2002 will move the economic relationship between the EU and Taiwan onto a new plane as it will affect the work of the ECCT in the years ahead.
For a start the ECCT has commissioned a study to assess the impact of Taiwan's WTO accession on key sectors of Taiwan's economy including the specific impact of the concomitant WTO entry of mainland China.
As part of this study McKinsey will develop a model that allows us to monitor the implementation of the WTO market access agreements according to their specific schedules.
Finally, this is my last year as CEO of the ECCT. My work at the ECCT has been both exciting and satisfying taking place as it were, at the intersection between private industry and government as well as legislative bodies.
I have particularly enjoyed the interaction with the individual members of the ECCT and would like to thank everybody for their support and wish you all the best in the future.
Open door mission report
The following is a report on the seventh Open Door Mission, which was undertaken by a delegation led by Paul Zeven, Philips, that visited Brussels on Nov 27 and 28 this year and consisted of:
Paul Zeven, Philips (Delegation Leader)
Robin Winkler, Qi Lin Consultants
Lawrence Tsao, Qi Lin Consultants
Leslie Lok, Siemens
Ralf Scheller, TUV Rheinland
Theo Stiftl, ECCT
The delegation was joined in Brussels by Stefan R. Vranckx, GlaxoSmithKline and Wolfgang Kriesten, Siemens.
The delegation had the following objectives: Presentation of Position Papers and miscellaneous issues that included Intellectual Property Protection, Spirits, Pharmaceuticals, European Schools, Product Certifi-cation, Environmental Protection, Competition.
Lateral issues included the status of Taiwan WTO accession, discuss mechanisms of monitoring the implementation of the WTO agreements, status of EC Representative Office and possible functions, and explore other opportunities to collaborate on EC interests in Taiwan.
The visit with European Parliament members discussed on the present update on economic and political environment in Taiwan, Taiwan WTO accession, EC Representative Office in Taiwan and to request support for WHO Observer Status for Taiwan as well as explore areas of common interest and possible cooperation.
The delegation was again warmly received by the Commission representatives and had a series of high level meetings including a meeting with Commissioner Pascal Lamy (Trade).
Our discussions with Pascal Lamy mainly focused on the following three subjects: Consequences of Taiwan's WTO accession and monitoring the implementation of the WTO agreements, Mainland / Taiwan trade relationship after WTO accession and the current economic situation in Taiwan. How deep is the slow down and what are the factors for a recovery.
Copies of our position papers had been mailed ahead of our visit and meetings were held with representatives in charge of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Product Certification, Intellectual Property Protection, Beverage Alcohol and Environmental Protection.
The delegation also held meetings with the European Competition authorities and representatives of DG Education and Culture.
A letter had been written by John Nixon, CEO of the European Schools, to Commissioner Reding and Brendan Cardiff was asked to meet the delegation on her behalf. Cardiff, in principle, expressed again the position of the EU that it is not within the EC's legal structure to support schools, even if the formula is one as with the European Schools in Taipei.
This is the prerogative of the member states who are apparently quite restrictive in what the Commission allowed to do with respect to education.
The situation concerning education outside the EU area is, nevertheless, evolving and the business aspects of education are also slowly gaining ground. These developments will, however, not benefit the European Schools in the short term.
Much of the discussions at the Commission were conducted against the background of Taiwan's impending accession to WTO after its application was approved at the meeting in Doha just prior to the Open Door Mission's visit. Issues presented in our position papers, for example, were particularly scrutinized as to their relevance under the WTO rules.
Taiwan's WTO accession also provided additional impetus for the opening of an EC office in Taiwan and Commission representatives were fairly positive that this would happen in the second half of 2002.
On Nov 27, the delegation was hosted at a dinner by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brussels, now headed by former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs David Tawei Lee, and on that occasion discussed the mission's objectives and accomplishments in detail.
We had also arranged a meeting with members of the European Parliament which was in session Brussels during our visit. This meeting was arranged with the assistance of Dr. Georg Jarzembowski, the European Chairman of the ROC -- EU Interparliamentary Amity Association, Intergroup in short.
The informal meeting was held at the European Parliament and was attended by about six parliamentarians in the afternoon of Nov 27 including Gerard Collins, UK.
Paul Zeven orally presented a summary report on Taiwan's current political and economic environment.
He urged the parliament to consider supporting observer status at the WHO for Taiwan on humanitarian grounds and also repeated the ECCT's support for the opening of an EC office in Taiwan.
Jarzembowski also showed considerable interest in the subject of the European Schools in Taiwan and asked for details of the current problems in writing and promised to follow up with the Commission.
In summary, this year's Open Door Mission again achieved all its stated objectives. Special acknowledgments are extended to the ECCT members of the delegation who have so generously contributed their time and experience.
ECCT Committees and Chairman
* Banking Committee
Chairman - Stuart Arthur Davis
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp
Phone: 2757-6457; Fax: 2757-7074
* Procurement & Project Committee
Chairman - Wolfgang Kern
Lurgi AG Taipei Branch (Germany)
Phone: 2777-5200; Fax: 2731-3832
* Better Taipei Living Committee
Chairman - Fabrice de Murat
L'OREAL Taiwan Co, Ltd
Phone: 2345-6751 ext 502; Fax: 2345-6760
* Finance & Investment Committee
Chairman - Raymond J Chow
Tung Yang Leasing Co
Phone: 2505-1010 ext 203; Fax: 2500-7623
* Greater China Committee
Chairman - Leslie Lok
Siemens Ltd, Taiwan
Phone: 2376-1800; Fax: 2376-1807
* Beverage Alcohol Committee
Chairman - Mark Harding
Riche Monde Ltd, Taiwan Branch
Phone: 2730-1798; Fax: 8732-4720
* Tax Committee
Chairman - Rene Ploegsma
KPMG
Phone: 2715-9999 ext l244; Fax: 2715-9888
* Pharmaceutical Committee
Chairman - Philippe Auvaro
Aventis Pharma Co, Ltd.
Phone: 8771-6262 e101; Fax: 8771-7755
* Capital Markets Committee
Chairman - Dieter Hellmann
Dresdner Asset Management (Taiwan) Ltd
Phone: 8773-5300; Fax: 8771-0576
* Environmental Protection Committee
Chairman - Andreas Gursch
Rethmann Recycling (Taiwan) Co, Ltd
Phone: 8787-2566: Fax: 2764-5698
* Transportation Committee
Chairman - Michel Vedrenne
Dassault Aviation
Phone: 2715-3772; Fax: 2715-3748
* Airlines Sub Committee
Chairman - TBA
* Maritime Sub Committee
Chairman - Martin Rolf
HAPAG-LLOYD (Taiwan) S.A. Ltd
Phone: 2752-1158; Fax: 2731-0062
* Logistics Committee
Chairman - Thomas Fernandez
J.H. Bachmann GMBH
Phone: 2504-7587; Fax: 2517-3810
* Food & Dairy Committee
Chairman - Chris Vermeulen
Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods
Phone: 2742-0188; Fax: 2748-6887
* Product Certification Committee
Chairman - Ralf Scheller
TUV Rheinland Taiwan Ltd
Phone: 2516-6040; Fax: 2504-0944
* Human Resources Committee
Chairman - Wendela Elsen
Taipei European Schools Foundation
Phone: 2862-2920; Fax: 2862-2933
* Telecommunication Committee
Chairman- TBA
* Intellectual Property Rights Committee
Co-Chairmen - John Eastwood
Qi Lin International Law Offices
Phone: 2311-2345; Fax: 2311-2688
* Co-Chairmen - Eddie Fong
Philips Electronics Industries (Taiwan) Ltd
Phone: 2134-2613: Fax: 2134-2626
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