The signing into law of an agreement on legal cooperation in criminal matters between Taiwan and Poland by the EU member state’s President Andrzej Duda is welcomed by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Jan. 31.
Under the pact, the two sides will fast-track extradition proceedings, increase exchanges of information on laws, implementation and prosecutions, share intelligence on combating transnational crime and terrorism, and streamline procedures for transferring prisoners.
The agreement is based on both sides’ shared values, as well as respect for human rights and rule of law, the MOFA said. The government will continue strengthening protections for the people while deepening bilateral friendship and expanding collaboration, the ministry added.
According to the MOFA, the pact was inked by Weber Ven-bin Shih, head of the Taipei Representative Office in Poland, and Maciej Artur Gaca, director general of the Polish Office in Taipei in June 2019. Those witnessing the milestone event included Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Justice Minister Tsai Ching-hsiang and Lukasz Piebiak, undersecretary of state for Poland’s Ministry of Justice.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Our sincere appreciation to @AndrzejDuda for signing into law the #Taiwan-#Poland agreement on legal cooperation in criminal matters. The pact is the 1st of its kind between Taiwan & a country in #Europe! It also represents a further strengthening of bilateral relations.”
The MOFA said the pact, which passed third reading in Legislative Yuan year-end 2019, will come into force upon receipt of official notification from the Polish government.
Taiwan and Poland share a close relationship spanning a broad spectrum of areas such as agriculture, higher education, scientific research and trade. The like-minded partners concluded agreements on science and higher education in 2018, as well as double taxation avoidance in 2016. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw