【中央社╱台北8日電】 2010.09.08 09:56 pm
來自日本、韓國的學者今天在一場座談會上表示，東亞國家彼此經濟、金融等各方面規範不同，增加東亞共同體誕生的困難度，東亞國家可先從雙邊合作發展，逐步開展多邊合作。
新台灣國策智庫、日本北海道大學、歐盟研究協會
下午舉辦「東亞區域整合：以歐洲歷史經驗為例」國際論壇。
北海道大學國際政治教授遠藤乾（Ken Endo）認為，歐盟在整合過程中得到美國在軍事與經濟上的協助，與美國是互助關係，並非對抗。
他說，在中國大陸崛起下，東亞區域整合對台灣與亞太國家來說，應該要達成將中國大陸融入區域整合制度，讓台灣獲得多邊體制下的保障，東亞整合也不致走上與美國對抗的後果。
北海道大學國際政治教授鈴木一人（KazutoSuzuki）表示，東亞國家彼此在經濟、金融、通訊、環保、智慧財產權等面向的規範不同，增加了東亞共同體誕生的困難度。
韓國外國語大學國際與區域研究所副所長溫大瑗（Daewon Ohn）認為，東北亞各國的歷史糾紛不利整合的進展，在目前帶有衝突性且不平衡的結構下，東亞區域整合困難重重。
溫大瑗說，東亞國家可以先從雙邊合作開始發展，建立友誼與信心後，再逐步開展到多邊合作機制。
【2010/09/08 中央社】 @ http://udn.com/
2010年9月8日 星期三
2010年8月27日 星期五
Commission closely following France's Roma expulsions
http://www.euractiv.com/en/socialeurope/commission-closely-following-frances-roma-expulsions-news-496960
Commission closely following France's Roma expulsions
Published: 19 August 2010
Updated: 20 August 2010
The European Commission is following very closely France's dealings with its Roma, who the authorities are planning to expel in groups, Commission representatives said yesterday (18 August), after being asked by the Brussels press whether the expulsions were in line with EU legislation.
Background
According to the European Commission, Roma are the EU's largest ethnic minority, and trace their origins to medieval India. There are many Roma subgroups living in Europe.
Current census statistics state that 535,000 Roma live in Romania, 370,000 in Bulgaria, 205,000 in Hungary, 89,000 in Slovakia and 108,000 in Serbia. Some 200,000 Roma are estimated to live in the Czech Republic, while the same number are estimated to reside in Greece and an estimated 500,000 are in Turkey.
Many Roma from Eastern Europe moved to the West following the EU's enlargement, creating tensions, particularly in Italy (EurActiv 30/06/09).
EU countries have the right to take security measures regarding foreigners residing on their territory, but "we're following the situation with great attention," Commission spokesperson Amelia Torres said.
Torres said two commissioners were dealing with the issue - Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Commissioner Viviane Reding and Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner László Andor.
Today (19 August), France begins to expel around 700 Roma, mostly from Romania and Bulgaria, who are living illegally in the country, the French press reported. On 28 July, French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a new anti-crime initiative targeting the "itinerant population," with a particular emphasis on the Roma community (EurActiv 29/07/10).
Immigration Minister Eric Besson said 79 Roma, who have agreed to return home in exchange for 300 euros for adults and 100 euros for minors, will board a charter flight bound for the Romanian capital Bucharest on Thursday.
He said police had so far dismantled 51 illegal Roma camps and two flights would take the Roma to Romania and Bulgaria on 19 and 26 August, with a third flight set for the end of September.
Journalists wanted to know the basis on which the expulsions of 700 people were being made, as EU legislation requires each case to be examined individually. A Commission spokesperson replied by saying that he would give such details later, as for the time being the EU executive was monitoring the situation.
Teodor Basconschi, Romania's foreign minister, voiced fears of mounting xenophobia in France over the Roma expulsions. "I am concerned about the risks of populist provocation and of creating xenophobic reactions at a time of economic crisis," he said in an interview with the Romanian service of French radio station RFI.
Basconschi, a former ambassador to France, called for a joint Franco-Romanian approach to resolving the situation, devoid of artificial election fever. He was seemingly referring to Sarkozy's weak prospects in view of the 2012 presidential elections.
The president and founder of the Party of the Left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, described as pitiful the French government's policy toward Roma and accused Sarkozy of sparking a climate of tension just to be able to play the role of Zorro.
"No-one gains anything by trying to hide the complexity of certain topics," he continued. "Since the beginning of the summer, the president needs scapegoats," Mélenchon argued.
At official level, Bulgaria remained silent over the controversy, but editorialists from the opposition press blasted Sarkozy's policy of "deportation".
It is believed that the number of Roma from Bulgaria in France and Western Europe as a whole is much lower than the number who come from Romania.
Positions
France's ruling right-wing UMP party lashed out at a UN committee that accuses the government of failing to stem a rising tide of racism in the country. Members of the UN's Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Cerd) come from countries which do not respect human rights and are "100 leagues from reality," party leaders said on 13 August, quoted by RFI.
"Not every country that is on it is an example of living democracy or of respect for minorities," said UMP MP Christian Vanneste. "Algeria, Russia and Romania, which treat Roma very badly - you see the state they're in when they get here," he added.
The committee's report denounced the "lack of political will" to bring to an end the allegedly increasing number of racist and xenophobic incidents.
The report also criticised French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent declarations concerning the Roma population in France, as well as his plan to strip criminals of foreign origin of French citizenship.
Commission closely following France's Roma expulsions
Published: 19 August 2010
Updated: 20 August 2010
The European Commission is following very closely France's dealings with its Roma, who the authorities are planning to expel in groups, Commission representatives said yesterday (18 August), after being asked by the Brussels press whether the expulsions were in line with EU legislation.
Background
According to the European Commission, Roma are the EU's largest ethnic minority, and trace their origins to medieval India. There are many Roma subgroups living in Europe.
Current census statistics state that 535,000 Roma live in Romania, 370,000 in Bulgaria, 205,000 in Hungary, 89,000 in Slovakia and 108,000 in Serbia. Some 200,000 Roma are estimated to live in the Czech Republic, while the same number are estimated to reside in Greece and an estimated 500,000 are in Turkey.
Many Roma from Eastern Europe moved to the West following the EU's enlargement, creating tensions, particularly in Italy (EurActiv 30/06/09).
EU countries have the right to take security measures regarding foreigners residing on their territory, but "we're following the situation with great attention," Commission spokesperson Amelia Torres said.
Torres said two commissioners were dealing with the issue - Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Commissioner Viviane Reding and Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner László Andor.
Today (19 August), France begins to expel around 700 Roma, mostly from Romania and Bulgaria, who are living illegally in the country, the French press reported. On 28 July, French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a new anti-crime initiative targeting the "itinerant population," with a particular emphasis on the Roma community (EurActiv 29/07/10).
Immigration Minister Eric Besson said 79 Roma, who have agreed to return home in exchange for 300 euros for adults and 100 euros for minors, will board a charter flight bound for the Romanian capital Bucharest on Thursday.
He said police had so far dismantled 51 illegal Roma camps and two flights would take the Roma to Romania and Bulgaria on 19 and 26 August, with a third flight set for the end of September.
Journalists wanted to know the basis on which the expulsions of 700 people were being made, as EU legislation requires each case to be examined individually. A Commission spokesperson replied by saying that he would give such details later, as for the time being the EU executive was monitoring the situation.
Teodor Basconschi, Romania's foreign minister, voiced fears of mounting xenophobia in France over the Roma expulsions. "I am concerned about the risks of populist provocation and of creating xenophobic reactions at a time of economic crisis," he said in an interview with the Romanian service of French radio station RFI.
Basconschi, a former ambassador to France, called for a joint Franco-Romanian approach to resolving the situation, devoid of artificial election fever. He was seemingly referring to Sarkozy's weak prospects in view of the 2012 presidential elections.
The president and founder of the Party of the Left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, described as pitiful the French government's policy toward Roma and accused Sarkozy of sparking a climate of tension just to be able to play the role of Zorro.
"No-one gains anything by trying to hide the complexity of certain topics," he continued. "Since the beginning of the summer, the president needs scapegoats," Mélenchon argued.
At official level, Bulgaria remained silent over the controversy, but editorialists from the opposition press blasted Sarkozy's policy of "deportation".
It is believed that the number of Roma from Bulgaria in France and Western Europe as a whole is much lower than the number who come from Romania.
Positions
France's ruling right-wing UMP party lashed out at a UN committee that accuses the government of failing to stem a rising tide of racism in the country. Members of the UN's Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Cerd) come from countries which do not respect human rights and are "100 leagues from reality," party leaders said on 13 August, quoted by RFI.
"Not every country that is on it is an example of living democracy or of respect for minorities," said UMP MP Christian Vanneste. "Algeria, Russia and Romania, which treat Roma very badly - you see the state they're in when they get here," he added.
The committee's report denounced the "lack of political will" to bring to an end the allegedly increasing number of racist and xenophobic incidents.
The report also criticised French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent declarations concerning the Roma population in France, as well as his plan to strip criminals of foreign origin of French citizenship.
2010年8月20日 星期五
Panel reports issued on information technology dispute
此為WTO相關課程網頁 http://nccuwtolaw.blogspot.com/2010/08/panel-reports-issued-on-information.html
亦值本課程參考
本案為美國日本與臺灣控告歐盟
歐盟敗訴
The WTO, on 16 August 2010, issued the reports of the panel that had examined complaints by the United States, Japan and Chinese Taipei against “European Communities and its Member States — Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products” (DS375, DS376 and DS377).
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/375_376_377r_e.htm
亦值本課程參考
本案為美國日本與臺灣控告歐盟
歐盟敗訴
The WTO, on 16 August 2010, issued the reports of the panel that had examined complaints by the United States, Japan and Chinese Taipei against “European Communities and its Member States — Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products” (DS375, DS376 and DS377).
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/375_376_377r_e.htm
2010年7月11日 星期日
歐盟官語幾種？ 快內訌！
【聯合報╱歐洲特派員陳玉慧】 2010.07.11 02:37 am
歐盟最近掀起一場語言戰爭，為了歐盟官方語言的決定，一些國家暗中較勁，目前法國和德國勝出，歐盟委員會通過，德文和法文將是歐盟的正式語言，外加英語。
義大利和西班牙非常不滿，義大利政府甚至恐嚇歐盟委員會，若歐盟排除其他21個歐盟成員國語言的話，義大利政府將毫不猶豫地動用否決權。
不可否認，這個問題十分敏感，不僅牽涉到各國在歐盟的政治地位，將來亦會對經濟造成很大的衝擊。
官語 攸關產業優勢
事實上，法國和德國多年來一直暗中試圖將二國語言成為歐盟的官方語言，此舉可使其在產業競爭力得到足夠的優勢，並強化國力。
而歐盟為什麼要裁決三語做為歐盟官方語言？ 主要是因歐盟專利法的翻譯費用問題，目前在歐盟申請專利，必須將申請案翻譯成歐盟23國語言，僅僅翻譯費用就高達14,000歐元，使申請費達2萬歐元（約47萬台幣），高出美國10倍以上，而專利認證事涉科研和創新等高科技行業，申請不力有礙科技和戰略發展。
前幾天，歐盟委員會主席巴羅索不顧羅馬和馬德里的反對，重申「歐盟三語」的決定。葡萄牙籍的巴羅索認為，這是一個「十分邏輯並能有效降低翻譯費用」的方案。
有人說，葡萄牙語本來是少數語，原本便無意角逐歐盟官方語，所以巴羅索寧可犧牲自己的世鄰西班牙。
為此，西班牙總理薩帕特羅已強烈反對，並要求歐盟重新討論，現在義大利外交部長弗拉蒂尼和共同體政策部長隆基也威脅動用否決權，他們宣稱將運用一切手段阻止「三語」政策。
獨鍾英語 德法不接受
巴羅索則向二國政府解釋，「以高代價來捍衛歐洲人的發明十分不智」。他還說，目前歐盟共有23種語言，無論選誰的語言，都不能保證語言選擇的公正。
與其三語，義大利和西班牙寧可退一步，選擇英語作為唯一的官方語言。義、西二國豈會不知，三語案得利的國家是法、德，將來都是難纏的競爭對手。
單獨以英語做為歐盟官方語言，這個建議迅速遭到德國和法國的反對，也難怪，法、德二國過去20年在歐洲境內興沖沖地折衝協調，便是希望創建一個歐洲理想國，怎麼最後卻使用英、美人的國語呢?
義、西提出另一個方案，就是五語制，除英、法和德語外，另加義大利和西班牙語。法籍的歐盟專員巴尼爾率先宣稱，五語制多所不便，法國和德國更傾向三語制方案。
德國戰敗後，在聯合國地位不如法國，且法語還是聯合國用語，在國際會議上法語使用的機會很普遍，但德國人認為，德國畢竟是歐盟最大國，使用德文乃屬必要。
此外，義大利籍專員塔加尼以「英語若成為唯一官方語言後可能對歐洲法庭帶來負面影響」為由，也宣布不支持一語案。
塔加尼的政治立場和總理貝魯斯科尼相左，發言遭右派執政黨斥責。
目前，西、義二國都已因國債和赤字連連，已成為歐盟繼希臘之後最大問題國，西班牙雖不滿，但還不至於與法德翻臉，對此事保持低調，最多只跟進義大利，但義大利貝魯斯科尼政府哪裡忍得下這口氣？
就像義大利足球迷動轍吶喊Forza Italia!（前進，義大利！），義大利政府摩拳擦掌，叫囂震天，但此事畢竟非關足球。
2010/07/11 聯合報 @ http://udn.com/
歐盟最近掀起一場語言戰爭，為了歐盟官方語言的決定，一些國家暗中較勁，目前法國和德國勝出，歐盟委員會通過，德文和法文將是歐盟的正式語言，外加英語。
義大利和西班牙非常不滿，義大利政府甚至恐嚇歐盟委員會，若歐盟排除其他21個歐盟成員國語言的話，義大利政府將毫不猶豫地動用否決權。
不可否認，這個問題十分敏感，不僅牽涉到各國在歐盟的政治地位，將來亦會對經濟造成很大的衝擊。
官語 攸關產業優勢
事實上，法國和德國多年來一直暗中試圖將二國語言成為歐盟的官方語言，此舉可使其在產業競爭力得到足夠的優勢，並強化國力。
而歐盟為什麼要裁決三語做為歐盟官方語言？ 主要是因歐盟專利法的翻譯費用問題，目前在歐盟申請專利，必須將申請案翻譯成歐盟23國語言，僅僅翻譯費用就高達14,000歐元，使申請費達2萬歐元（約47萬台幣），高出美國10倍以上，而專利認證事涉科研和創新等高科技行業，申請不力有礙科技和戰略發展。
前幾天，歐盟委員會主席巴羅索不顧羅馬和馬德里的反對，重申「歐盟三語」的決定。葡萄牙籍的巴羅索認為，這是一個「十分邏輯並能有效降低翻譯費用」的方案。
有人說，葡萄牙語本來是少數語，原本便無意角逐歐盟官方語，所以巴羅索寧可犧牲自己的世鄰西班牙。
為此，西班牙總理薩帕特羅已強烈反對，並要求歐盟重新討論，現在義大利外交部長弗拉蒂尼和共同體政策部長隆基也威脅動用否決權，他們宣稱將運用一切手段阻止「三語」政策。
獨鍾英語 德法不接受
巴羅索則向二國政府解釋，「以高代價來捍衛歐洲人的發明十分不智」。他還說，目前歐盟共有23種語言，無論選誰的語言，都不能保證語言選擇的公正。
與其三語，義大利和西班牙寧可退一步，選擇英語作為唯一的官方語言。義、西二國豈會不知，三語案得利的國家是法、德，將來都是難纏的競爭對手。
單獨以英語做為歐盟官方語言，這個建議迅速遭到德國和法國的反對，也難怪，法、德二國過去20年在歐洲境內興沖沖地折衝協調，便是希望創建一個歐洲理想國，怎麼最後卻使用英、美人的國語呢?
義、西提出另一個方案，就是五語制，除英、法和德語外，另加義大利和西班牙語。法籍的歐盟專員巴尼爾率先宣稱，五語制多所不便，法國和德國更傾向三語制方案。
德國戰敗後，在聯合國地位不如法國，且法語還是聯合國用語，在國際會議上法語使用的機會很普遍，但德國人認為，德國畢竟是歐盟最大國，使用德文乃屬必要。
此外，義大利籍專員塔加尼以「英語若成為唯一官方語言後可能對歐洲法庭帶來負面影響」為由，也宣布不支持一語案。
塔加尼的政治立場和總理貝魯斯科尼相左，發言遭右派執政黨斥責。
目前，西、義二國都已因國債和赤字連連，已成為歐盟繼希臘之後最大問題國，西班牙雖不滿，但還不至於與法德翻臉，對此事保持低調，最多只跟進義大利，但義大利貝魯斯科尼政府哪裡忍得下這口氣？
就像義大利足球迷動轍吶喊Forza Italia!（前進，義大利！），義大利政府摩拳擦掌，叫囂震天，但此事畢竟非關足球。
2010/07/11 聯合報 @ http://udn.com/
向WTO控告歐盟 面板等爭端獲有利裁決
【聯合晚報╱記者郭玫君/台北報導】
2010.07.11 03:01 pm
據來自日內瓦消息，台灣聯合美、日在世界貿易組織(WTO)控告歐盟違反資訊科技協定(ITA)協定、對面板等科技產品課徵關稅，經過2年多的訴訟，終於獲得有利裁決！這是台灣首度在WTO的貿易爭端解決機制提出告訴，且獲得全面勝利。如果裁決最終能執行，預計台灣輸入歐洲市場的主力商品液晶顯示器將可免除14%關稅，一年約可省下196億元關稅支出。
根據ITA協定明文規定，面板應享有零關稅待遇，但歐盟卻依據世界關務組織（WCO）稅則號列規定，將後期新推出的19吋以上（加上端子）液晶顯示器視為電視機產品，課徵14%關稅，違反ITA協定零關稅宗旨。高額關稅成本支出讓台灣業者大喊吃不消，進而向政府求助。經濟部官員指出，經濟部從2008年便開始向歐盟提出諮詢，同時聯合美國、日本向WTO爭端解決機制尋求解決。
而這起台灣聯合美、日的起訴訟案，備受國際注目，因為不但是第一件涉及ITA的貿易訴訟，更凸顯科技發展、產品推陳出新，進而影響國際條文解釋的問題。
經濟部官員解釋，歐盟對19吋以上加上端子的液晶顯示器變更為電視機稅號，課徵14%關稅，對美國主力商品機上盒課徵13.9%稅、對日本主力商品多功能事務機則課徵6%稅，都是因為當初ITA協定簽署時，這些新科技產品都還未推出，導致不適用條文的問題。
由於科技發展影響國際法條解釋，牽涉範圍廣泛、複雜，也讓WTO審議小組（Panel）一直延期，經過長達2年的訴訟， WTO期中報告終於在6月11日出爐，確定這起控告歐盟違反 ITA協定訴訟案，將由原告國台、美、日取得勝利，預計期末報告7月23日出爐。歐盟確定敗訴後，未來台灣輸歐的液晶顯示器不再被課徵14%關稅，包含奇美電子、BenQ 、友達等面板廠都將受惠。根據2008年台灣大尺寸面板輸歐產值1400億元推算，未來輸歐免除關稅後，台灣業者一年約可省下196億元的關稅。
而此訴訟案更大意義在於，引發國際條文解釋是否與科技發展與時俱進的討論，原告國取得勝利判決結果，更將成為日後科技產品判例援引案例，對於科技立國的台灣而言將是有利方向。此外，歐盟國家為避免爭議，對於具電視功能的手機與GPS未來輸歐也都將暫停課稅，包含宏達電等不少新興消費科技產品業者，都將同步受惠。
【2010/07/11 聯合晚報】 @ http://udn.com/
2010.07.11 03:01 pm
據來自日內瓦消息，台灣聯合美、日在世界貿易組織(WTO)控告歐盟違反資訊科技協定(ITA)協定、對面板等科技產品課徵關稅，經過2年多的訴訟，終於獲得有利裁決！這是台灣首度在WTO的貿易爭端解決機制提出告訴，且獲得全面勝利。如果裁決最終能執行，預計台灣輸入歐洲市場的主力商品液晶顯示器將可免除14%關稅，一年約可省下196億元關稅支出。
根據ITA協定明文規定，面板應享有零關稅待遇，但歐盟卻依據世界關務組織（WCO）稅則號列規定，將後期新推出的19吋以上（加上端子）液晶顯示器視為電視機產品，課徵14%關稅，違反ITA協定零關稅宗旨。高額關稅成本支出讓台灣業者大喊吃不消，進而向政府求助。經濟部官員指出，經濟部從2008年便開始向歐盟提出諮詢，同時聯合美國、日本向WTO爭端解決機制尋求解決。
而這起台灣聯合美、日的起訴訟案，備受國際注目，因為不但是第一件涉及ITA的貿易訴訟，更凸顯科技發展、產品推陳出新，進而影響國際條文解釋的問題。
經濟部官員解釋，歐盟對19吋以上加上端子的液晶顯示器變更為電視機稅號，課徵14%關稅，對美國主力商品機上盒課徵13.9%稅、對日本主力商品多功能事務機則課徵6%稅，都是因為當初ITA協定簽署時，這些新科技產品都還未推出，導致不適用條文的問題。
由於科技發展影響國際法條解釋，牽涉範圍廣泛、複雜，也讓WTO審議小組（Panel）一直延期，經過長達2年的訴訟， WTO期中報告終於在6月11日出爐，確定這起控告歐盟違反 ITA協定訴訟案，將由原告國台、美、日取得勝利，預計期末報告7月23日出爐。歐盟確定敗訴後，未來台灣輸歐的液晶顯示器不再被課徵14%關稅，包含奇美電子、BenQ 、友達等面板廠都將受惠。根據2008年台灣大尺寸面板輸歐產值1400億元推算，未來輸歐免除關稅後，台灣業者一年約可省下196億元的關稅。
而此訴訟案更大意義在於，引發國際條文解釋是否與科技發展與時俱進的討論，原告國取得勝利判決結果，更將成為日後科技產品判例援引案例，對於科技立國的台灣而言將是有利方向。此外，歐盟國家為避免爭議，對於具電視功能的手機與GPS未來輸歐也都將暫停課稅，包含宏達電等不少新興消費科技產品業者，都將同步受惠。
【2010/07/11 聯合晚報】 @ http://udn.com/
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