• Created：2010-12-08
• Data Source：Bureau Of Consular Affairs
• Counter：2704

On November 11, 2010, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the European Commission’s proposal to grant Schengen visa exemptions to Republic of China (Taiwan) passport holders by an overwhelming majority, with 559 votes for and 40 against it. However, the proposal will have to undergo final deliberation by the Council of the European Union.
On July 5, 2010, a proposal to exempt Taiwan passport holders from the Schengen visa requirement was submitted by the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for deliberation. The proposal was initially passed by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on October 5, 2010, and subsequently by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on October 26, 2010. 
In accordance with the procedures of the European Union, the Schengen visa waiver proposal will have to be finalized after its adoption by the Council of the European Union. This new measure, once finalized, will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Thereafter, ROC (Taiwan) citizens will enjoy visa-free travel to the 28 countries of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days aggregate within each 6-month period beginning from the date of their first visa-free entry into the area. 
The 28 Schengen Area countries are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) deeply appreciates the European Parliament for approving this proposal, which MOFA has endeavored to realize in recent years. MOFA hopes that the Council of the European Union will adopt the proposal by the end of 2010.
Combined with the visa exemptions for ROC (Taiwan) citizens by the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2009, the Schengen visa waiver would allow the people of Taiwan to travel to a total of 30 European countries visa-free. The convenience offered by the Schengen visa waiver will benefit the interests of tourists and businesspeople from Taiwan and the Schengen Area countries, and help generate more opportunities, facilitate exchanges, and enhance mutual substantive cooperation. MOFA will continue to uphold and secure the interests of the people of Taiwan. (E)