外交部表示，台灣與英國12日正式簽署「台英航空服務營運協定」，每週飛往英國班機數由原先6班增加至10班。

外交部晚間發布新聞稿說，「台英航空服務營運協定」自簽署日起生效，且正式取代1992年由台北市航空運輸商業同業公會與英國航空公司簽訂的「台英通航協定」。外交部表示，因原有航空協定所訂航班數已不敷需求，經外交部、交通部與英方密集諮商後，終於完成簽署「台英航空服務營運協定」。相信對強化兩國觀光、經貿、留（遊）學等交流及提供人民旅遊便利有極大助益。外交部說，繼2001年台灣與英國簽署「台英教育文化協定」、2002年「台英避免雙重課稅暨防杜逃漏稅協定」之後，「台英航空服務營運協定」是第3個以雙方代表機構名義簽訂的協定，將有助增進兩國人民往來並提昇雙邊實質友好合作關係。

外交部指出，近年來，台英雙方經貿、觀光、學術、文化等民間往來關係日益密切，兩國航空市場成長迅速，尤其自今年3月3日起英國給予國人赴英 6個月免簽證待遇後，台英互訪人數大幅增加。根據英方統計資料顯示，自台灣民眾享有赴英免簽證待遇，在今年3月16日至4月15日期間，民眾赴英人數與去年同期相較，大幅增加41.61%，1個月內即增加5421人。

台灣護照持有者

明年”可能”可以入境申根國免簽證

British MEP Charles Tannock has been successful in his long-running campaign to make it easier for the Taiwanese to visit Europe.

It follows news that from January 1 Taiwan citizens are set to enjoy visa-free status when travelling to Europe.

Tannock, who has just returned from a fact-finding trip to Taiwan, heralded the decision as an “important” step forward in relations between Taiwan and the EU.

The  Tory deputy, chairman of parliament’s Taiwan friendship group, said, “I recently have had substantial success in pushing for visa-free status for Taiwan residents travelling within the Schengen zone.

“Taiwan has close economic ties with EU members and shares the universal values of freedom of speech, free markets and human rights.”

During his week-long visit, where Tannock led an eight-strong delegation of MEPs to Taiwan, he gave a keynote speech on the visa issue at the EU centre in Taipei, the country’s capital.

In response to Tannock’s remarks, Chiu Jong-jen, director-general of the Taiwan foreign ministry’s department of European affairs, confirmed the government is in talks with the EU regarding the lifting of visa requirements for Republic of China (Taiwan) citizens.

“If everything goes smoothly, Taiwan will enjoy visa-free treatment in early to mid-2010,” he said.

During his address, Tannock also reiterated support for Taiwan’s bid to secure meaningful participation in UN specialised agencies, something China has traditionally tried to block.

The deputy spoke in favour of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organisation’s governing body last May, calling for the country to be accepted as a full member.

Commenting on the easing of tensions between Taipei and Beijing, Tannock praised Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou’s “flexible diplomacy” approach, describing it as a “pragmatic policy of making small, incremental cross-strait cooperative gains.”

Tannock visited the country at the invitation of the Taiwan foreign ministry. It was his and the friendship group’s first visit to the island following its re-organisation in June.

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