Tuesday, March 02, 2010

EU transition pushes back Taiwan's Schengen visa-free plan: MOFA

Taipei, March 2 (CNA) Taiwanese have to wait a little longer to enjoy visa-free privileges entering the Schengen Area because the European Union (EU) is going through a transition period after the Lisbon Treaty took effect, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.

"Hopefully, we can get it done before the end of this year to benefit Taiwan's tourists, students and businessmen entering Europe, " said Chiu Jong-jen, director-general of the Department of European Affairs under the MOFA.

He said that the ministry had expected Taiwan's nationals to be granted visa-free privileges at some point between April and June this year.

Charles Tannock, a member of the European Parliament (MEP), also said in Taiwan last October that he hoped Taiwanese people will be able to enter EU nations without a visa by early 2010.

While the previous EU Commission's term expired at the end of last October and the Lisbon Treaty kicked in last December, it will take some time for the new EU Commission and the EU to get past a transition period, and that is why the initiative is expected to be pushed back, Chiu said.

The ministry is optimistic about the proposal, however, because Taiwan has worked on the initiative for years, Chiu said. Taiwan meets every requirement the EU requests in the visa-free program and it is "fully qualified" for receiving the privilege, he added.

"The Schengen visa-free initiative is a huge task for the ministry. If the proposal is passed in the European Council, it will benefit all the people in Taiwan, " Chiu said.

"I think that it is just a matter of time for Taiwan to be granted a visa-free treatment in the Schengen area, " he added.

Hungarian parliamentarian Zsolt Nemeth said during his visit to Taiwan in January that Hungary, which will take over EU's rotating presidency in January 2011, supports granting visa-free treatment to Taiwanese passport holders.

The Schengen Area comprises the territories of 25 European countries.