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Europe

Enlivening its European presence, MEAN WELL brings dragon boat racing to the Netherlands

On June 25th of this year, if you stood on the shores of De Poel Lake south of Amsterdam, you might have felt you'd been transported to Taiwan. Still, early in the morning, the usually tranquil forest park was already bustling, notably with the presence of numerous Asian families. People from diverse regions eagerly awaited the annual Dragon Boat Festival races, conversing in Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese.

Facing an energy crisis, is Europe really embracing nuclear?

European energy policy stands at its most uncertain crossroads in the last decade. As natural gas and electricity prices skyrocketed, conserving energy and enduring the winter are now major challenges. Various countries have indicated a change of heart regarding nuclear power, but is there really a "nuclear renaissance"? CommonWealth took to 11 cities across Germany, France, and the UK to find out what lessons and inspiration Europe’s energy choices might offer Taiwan.

EU dealing with conflict in Europe with rival China on the mind

The war in Ukraine is changing Europe as the EU moves from a monetary union to a military one in a bid to play a leading role in shaping a new global order. “Economic dependency”, a double-edged sword, turns into a geopolitical weapon. CommonWealth journalists reported on the ground in Brussels.

Why Taiwan remains an integral part of the EU-US cooperation on China

On 15 June, European Commission and Council presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will host US President Joe Biden in Brussels on his first visit to Europe since taking office. There are increasing calls for Europe to upgrade its policy on Taiwan as it rethinks its China strategy, what are the implications for transatlantic relations?

The Distance Taiwan has Travelled: Farewell Message from a British Diplomat

“Taiwan is not just the chip inside our mobile phone, it is not just the only society in Asia with marriage equality, it is not just a centre of creativity and energy, it is not just the ‘beautiful island’ of dramatic peaks, lush forests, and precious biodiversity. Taiwan is all these things. And it is our firm partner as we manage our changing world together.”

Dutch representative Guy Wittich goes full circle with his Taiwan tenure

The Netherlands is Taiwan’s biggest foreign investor. In 2018, it has invested over NT$10 billion, most of which is in the semiconductor field. How important is the Netherlands for Taiwan’s semiconductor industry? What do the Dutch representative expect to see in terms of future collaboration between Taiwan and the Netherlands?

EU representative: Taiwan’s COVID-19 fighting experience is an inspiration for Europeans

As the world remains in lockdown, Taiwan is lending a helping hand. For the first time ever, EU leaders openly addressed and thanked Taiwan for the donation of 5.6 million face masks to the most needed places. How did the EU representative in Taiwan pull this off? And why does he think this means closer EU-Taiwan cooperation in the future?

Europe
World Economic Forum

This Dutch Butcher Makes Plants Taste Just Like Meat

For every 1 kg of beef, almost 3 kg of human-edible feed is needed to feed the cow.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Denmark, Sweden and Germany Are Considering A Meat Tax

Advocates of such a plan say the environmental impact, health ramifications and concerns about animal welfare underpin the need for such a levy. But how realistic is it? And would it really work?

Europe
World Economic Forum

Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is Reducing Single-Use Plastics

The tournament has introduced several environmentally friendly initiatives to boost its eco credentials.

Europe
World Economic Forum

These Are The World’s Healthiest Nations

Spain has many attractions - delicious cuisine, a balmy climate, sublime music and a fascinating history. And now it can add another accolade: it has just been named the healthiest country in the world.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Women in Switzerland Stage Strike for Equality

After 500,000 people took to the streets on June 14, 1991, the government responded with a federal law on equality. 28 years later, Swiss women were back on the streets on June 14 in a nationwide women's strike to protest at a lack of progress on gender equality and fair pay.

Europe
World Economic Forum

This UK Supermarket Aims to Go Packaging-Free

Waitrose aims to make all its own-brand packaging either reusable or compostable by 2023.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Which Cities Boast High Pay and Best Quality of Life

In fact, when it comes to the highest living standards, smaller global cities seem to have the edge over megacities. Take New York as an example: though ranked 5th for disposable income after rent, it only placed 31st for quality of life.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Heating or Eating - Poverty in the UK

Picture a country where a fifth of the population lives in poverty. People have to choose between eating or heating their homes and children go to school hungry. Homelessness is rising. And basic services are in crisis, leaving many struggling to cope.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Economic Ties between Europe and Asia are Strengthening

While the eyes of the world are on the US-China trade war, Asia and Europe are working to deepen their relationship.

Europe
World Economic Forum

80% of Britons Agree Skilled Migrants Add Value to the UK

Almost half of the British population perceives immigrants as either a positive or neutral presence, according to a global study by YouGov-Cambridge Globalism.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Turning Coffee Grounds into Palm Oil Alternatives

Palm oil has been blamed for the destruction of rainforests, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia. This start-up is working on a sustainable alternative made from coffee waste.

Europe
CommonWealth Finance Weekly

Beijing Pressed at Brussels to Open EU Market

The 21st EU-China Summit was held in Brussels. If China had hoped to gain European allies in the trade war against the United States, they got a rude awakening. The EU views China as a “systematic rival” and urges Beijing to open its market.

Gold for Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei enjoyed a perfect week in Romania as it won the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division II Group B.

Europe
World Happiness Report 2019

Finland is The World’s Happiest Country – Again

What really makes a happy nation? The report’s authors insist it's not just about money. Finland tops the happiness list despite not having the highest GDP of the Nordic countries.

Europe
CommonWealth Finance Weekly

Xi Jinping is in Europe; Why is Taiwan Worried?

President of China Xi Jinping is making state visits to three European countries this week. Special attention is being paid to discussions concerning the controversial “Belt and Road Initiative” with the Italian government, as well as a possible visit to the Vatican. Taiwan is especially nervous about Xi meeting the Pope in the Holy See.

Europe
World Economic Forum

The Netherlands is Paying People to Cycle to Work

There are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands and they account for almost half of all journeys between home and work in the city of Amsterdam alone. It’s small wonder the country proudly calls itself the “unrivalled number one bicycling nation” in the world.

Europe
World Economic Forum

Break the Fast Fashion Habit and Save the Planet

As Paris fashion week gets underway, the environmental cost of cheap, fast turnaround fashion is in the spotlight.

The Secret to Gender Equality

Nordic countries lead the world at closing the gender gap and, in recent years, have taken root at the top of the global rankings. But why are these nations so far ahead of others?

Europe
The Global Competitiveness Report 2018

Germany Is the World’s Most Innovative Economy

Germany comes top for innovation in the World Economic Forum's report on global competitiveness. Here's why.

Europe
Tseng Chun Hsin

How 'The Taiwan Night Market Champion' Fought to the Top

Tseng Chun Hsin, the Taiwanese boy who defeated the host country Britain's Jack Draper to win the Wimbledon boy’s singles title, has just turned 17 today (Aug. 8), having fulfilled the goal he boldly claimed three years ago—becoming a world champion.

Europe
World Cup Russia 2018

Does Hosting a World Cup Make Economic Sense to the Host Country?

2018 World Cup in Russia is coming soon. The total economic impact of the mega sports event could be $30.8 billion by 2023.

Europe
Defending the Throne

Advantech Launches Counter Attack from Europe

Ennoconn Corporation, a member of the Hon Hai/ Foxconn Technology Group, is steadily closing in on Taiwanese industrial computer manufacturer Advantech Co. Ltd., threatening to replace it as the global No. 1. How does Advantech plan to win this battle?

Europe
Top Innovative Countries

What Makes S. Korea and Sweden the Most Innovative Countries in the World?

These are the most innovative countries in the world, South Korea, Sweden and Singapore top the list.

Europe
Empty Dutch Prisons

Netherlands is Turning Prisons into Homes for Refugees

Thanks to plummeting crime rates, Dutch authorities have come up with new ways to use the vacant cell blocks.

Europe
École 42

Students Clamoring to Study at Revolutionary Free Tech School

While the acceptance rate at Taiwanese universities stands above 100 percent, only 1 percent of applicants are accepted at École 42, a private computer programming school in Paris. What makes this institution even more difficult to get into than a prestigious, top-ranked university like Harvard?

Europe
Switzerland

The Secret of the World’s Most Competitive Nation

Though Switzerland has consistently held the top spot in the Global Competitiveness Rankings by the World Economic Forum, the landlocked nation has slipped to rank 47 for enrollment in higher education. The country boasts the most internationalized universities, yet it says internationalization is not the goal.

Europe
Closing in on Industry 4.0

Digital Brains Aid in Farming and Surgery

Robotic arms in operating rooms are old news. But now digital brains are taking on greater roles independent from human operators, serving as assistants during surgical procedures, and also helping farmers tend their vegetable fields.

Cambridge – The World’s High-Tech Talent Pool

Over the past century, the University of Cambridge has spawned 92 Nobel prize laureates across all categories. With its cutting-edge research and technology, the Cambridge tech cluster has attracted more than 4,300 talent-hungry companies from around the world.

Europe
Thomas Heatherwick:

Keep Moving Forward

Like his projects, Thomas Heatherwick operates in a world of practical considerations and constraints, relentlessly working to bridge modern cities with the individual need to feel important and productive. Inside Heatherwick Studio, an exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum through May 15, celebrates and gives insight into the mind behind such projects as the Garden Bridge and the British Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Europe
Post-Paris Climate Conference

Global Low-Carbon Trends Taking Hold

The conclusion of the Paris Climate Agreement has raised the curtain on a low-carbon future. How are French and German corporations taking up the challenge to turn low carbon into high profits?

Europe
Stephane Corcuff

'Acquiring' Ancestors in Taiwan

Inside a cluster of decrepit wooden houses dating from the Japanese period, French scholar Stéphane Corcuff came across a wooden ancestral memorial plaque that changed his relationship with Taiwan.

Europe
British Designer Thomas Heatherwick

Making the Future

He is the man behind the stunning UK Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the 2012 Olympic cauldron. How does this uncompromising "Da Vinci of our times" present a new Great Britain to the world?

Europe
British Designer Jay Osgerby

Make Less, But Better

The British design team of Barber and Osgerby gained world fame with their design of a stylish and light all-weather Olympic torch for the London Olympics in 2012. What is the source of their creativity?

Europe
Danish Design Centre's Nille Juul-Sorensen:

'Everything Is a Design'

The director of Denmark's foremost school of design considers the sources of Scandinavian design prowess, the methodology behind the minimalism, and the importance of community.

Europe
The Nordic Models

Making an Art of the 'Simple Life'

Healing diets, a comfortable home, the simple pleasures of life – Taiwanese are gravitating more than ever to this "simple life." To figure out how to get there, their best bet is to look at Scandinavia.

Europe
London Olympics

17 Days to Forge the Next 70 Years

The eyes of the world will be on London for 17 days this summer. But once the Olympic Games are over, will they leave the positive legacy for future generations promised by their organizers?

Europe
London Legacy Development Corp.

After the Olympics, the Park Must Live On

Once the London Olympic Games have concluded, the risk of leaving behind disused venues is great. How does London plan to turn Olympic Park into a future community landmark and favored tourist destination?

Europe
Education

Why Is Finland Tops in Civics?

Finland often emerges a champion in a variety of educational evaluations, and civic education is no exception. With no formal civics classes, how is it that Finnish kids produce the best civic education achievements?

Europe
The Prosperous Baltic Sea Region

Small Countries, Smart Successes

It's the world's wealthiest gulf region: eight small countries with a tradition of equality and universally enviable growth, which may provide some timely lessons for Taiwan.

Europe
Switzerland

Affluence, with Strings Attached

Possessed of a strong sense of self-reliance and personal responsibility, the Swiss live direct democracy, taking their destiny in their own hands. They must also keep scrambling to meet the challenges that affluence presents.

Europe
The Swiss Model

Putting the Middle Class on Center Stage

Switzerland is best known for luxury watches, the Alps, and secretive banks. But the landlocked country has carved out a distinctive way of life that makes it one of the world's most livable places.

Europe
'Made in Switzerland'

Broad Base, Core Competitiveness

With the world's highest production value, Swiss industry must be doing something right. A broad manufacturing base and a solid two-track vocational education system may be the secrets to Swiss success.

Europe
Germany – European Renewable Energy Leader

Roofs that Make Money

Across Germany homeowners are installing photovoltaic systems on their roofs to generate electricity, and selling surplus power to utility companies. They are determined to help end the era of nuclear power through green energy.

Europe
Greece's Economic Collapse

The Last Joyride of the Crickets

Like the cricket in Aesop's Fables, the Greeks have enjoyed a carefree life with little concern for the future. But now this once-glorious civilization has become the panhandler of Europe. Three key factors lie behind the Grecian downfall.

Europe
The German Model

Technical Training: the Sound Foundation

Taiwan's vocational education system was long patterned after Germany's but has veered away from its technical-orientation over the past decade. It may be time to look to Germany again.

Europe
Copenhagen Climate Summit

Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation

CommonWealth Magazine is one of the many media organizations from more than 40 countries that are speaking with one voice on climate change during the Copenhagen summit.

Europe
Russia's IT Industry

Rising Software Superpower

Just as Kaspersky is occupying the top perch in the anti-virus industry, Russian software seems to be taking over the world, with Taiwanese handset brands and OEM manufacturers counting among their major customers.

Europe
Green Vehicles – German Edition

Mini E Leaves Conventional Cars in the Dust

Luxury carmaker BMW developed a hip electric car in less than a year. A replica of the British cult car Mini Cooper, with a battery made in Taiwan, the Mini E boasts an acceleration faster than most combustion-engine vehicles.

Europe
London: Capital for a New Millennium

Open, Integrated, Reborn

A city of openness, innovation, intellectual authority and unquestionable energy, London now stands as the financial capital of the world. What secrets does it have to teach Taipei?

Europe
British Media

Independent Voices Leading the World

The global media?s values are under assault by the Internet, industry consolidation, and sensationalism. But some British outlets are bucking the trend.

Europe
Small Countries, Smart Successes

Sweden: A Model for the Middle Path

The Swedish model shows that social welfare and competitiveness need not be mutually exclusive, and may prove the solution to globalized society’s continually widening wealth gap.

Europe
Small Countries, Smart Successes

Estonia: the Baltic Tiger

Despite a tragic history and geographical limitations, this former Soviet republic with a tiny population is turning weaknesses into advantages.

Europe
Small Countries, Smart Successes

Finland: The World's Most Competitive Small Nation

With three major strategies, a small, out-of-the-way country, poor and downtrodden for 800 years, became a land of plenty and a model the whole world seeks to emulate.