Taipei: The European Union's top envoy to Taiwan on Monday called for greater bilateral cooperation to boost civil society preparedness for natural and man-made disasters, saying such efforts were crucial for both the EU and Taiwan to enhance resilience. Lutz Gllner, head of the European Economic and Trade Office (EETO) in Taiwan, emphasized the importance of "resilience and preparedness" for societies facing these challenges, particularly during times of geopolitical uncertainty.

According to Focus Taiwan, Gllner spoke at an EETO-funded workshop in Taipei, highlighting Europe's efforts to strengthen civil protection mechanisms over recent years, especially in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He acknowledged Taiwan as a reference point in natural disaster management, expressing admiration for its systems. Conversely, he noted the EU's experience with disasters such as wildfires and civil protection mechanisms.

"It's really about learning together, developing together and, most importantly, not just between governments but between civil society, people and communities, to build a real culture of resilience," Gllner stated. He underscored the necessity for partnerships, asserting, "Taiwan needs partners. The European Union needs partners," and stressed that such collaboration "can strengthen resilience in Taiwan and in Europe."

The remarks were made during the opening ceremony of a workshop organized by the Taipei-based Forward Alliance, a Taiwanese national security and civil defense think tank. The event included participants from Samaritan International, a European network of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations focused on social and emergency services.

Paul Wardenga of Samaritan International also spoke at the ceremony, explaining that the seminar aims to facilitate learning between Taiwanese NGO volunteers and their European counterparts. The exchange will focus on volunteer management and training for civil protection purposes.