In order to promote the EU studies in the world and its exchange with the third countries, the European Union began establishing EU Centres in 1998. In the aftermath of publication of call for proposals by the European Commission in July 2008, seven top universities in Taiwan (NTU, NCCU, NCHU, NDHU, NSYSU, FJU and TKU) agreed to constitute the Consortium with National Taiwan University as Lead University. The proposal of the Consortium was endorsed by the European Commission and agreement was signed in December 2008. On May 22, 2009, the European Union Centre in Taiwan (EUTW) was solemnly inaugurated at National Taiwan University with presence of the then ROC Foreign Minister and Minister of Education and Director of Directorate from the European Commission.

Under the leadership of ex Director General, Dr. Tzong-Ho Bau, the EUTW has succeeded in establishing EU Centres at all six other universities, creating EU Study Programs for undergraduate, EU Study Clubs and EU Study Area in the main libraries at all seven universities. Furthermore, EUTW and the NTU Press singed an agreement to establish "Series of EU Studies in Taiwan", which will be composed of high quality academic books for the whole Chinese world. EUTW also works with the Foreign Service Institute of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create the monthly forum on the EU, which assembled experts from the government, academia and enterprises to exchange opinions on the subject of EU and its policies. EUTW also issues bi-weekly newsletters, invites experts or opinion leaders from the EU, organizes direct dialogue between students, experts or opinion leaders with EU officers in order to supply the whole society the most update information of the EU. EUTW participated very actively in the regional and global networking of the EU Centres, which permitted the Taiwanese academia on the EU studies to cooperate and exchange ideas with their counterparts in other countries. EUTW also hosts national expositions on EU-related subjects, such as EU and the Global Climate Change in 2009, EU Film Festival in 2009-2010, EU’c City Cultures in 2010 and the European Integration and EU’s Friendship with Taiwan in 2011.

Nominated by the Steering Committee as successor to Dr. Bau in March 2011, I do hope, based upon these foundations and working together with all colleagues at EUTW and EU Centres at partner universites, to continue to promote the EU teachings and studies at all universities, to accelerate people-to-people exchange and cooperation between EU and Taiwan, and to increase understanding of the EU among the general public in Taiwan.

Director General, EUTW