ECCT Special Lunch

The EU’s response to the crisis in Ukraine: What the new reality means for Member States and multinational companies

Guest speaker
Filip Grzegorzewski, Head of Office, European Economic and Trade Office

Date: Friday, 25 March 2022
Time: 12:00-14:00
Venue: W Taipei, Studio 3+4, 9F / 台北W飯店, 商情會議室3+4, 9樓
Address: 10 Zhongxiao East Road, Sec. 5, Xinyi District, Taipei /台北市信義區忠孝東路五段10號

The premediated and unprovoked attack by Russian forces on Ukraine has shocked the world and prompted a global response unmatched in scope and severity since World War II. The invasion of a sovereign, independent state has drawn almost universal condemnation and led to a strengthening of unity among EU Member States, countries in the NATO alliance and democracies outside of it. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said we are now living in a new reality that will have far-reaching implications for the world.

For its part, the European Union has stepped up its efforts to support Ukraine. The EU has imposed crippling sanctions on Russian and Belarussian leaders and oligarchs, shut down European airspace to Russian planes and blocked state-backed Russian media in Europe. And, for the first time in its history, the European Union is financing the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to counter the attack on Ukraine. In addition, the EU is providing significant funding and humanitarian assistance for people inside Ukraine and refugees fleeing the country.

While the situation is fluid and changing constantly, the Russian invasion of Ukraine will have a lasting impact on Europe, both at the political and economic level. At this event, our guest speaker will give an update and engage in a Q&A session with ECCT members on the situation in Ukraine and the EU, how the EU is responding on a day-to-day basis to the crisis and how it is working to safeguard the future security and prosperity of Europe.

About the speaker
Filip Grzegorzewski took up his position as Head of the EETO in September 2019. He is a career diplomat with specialist knowledge of and experience in Asia. He has held key positions in both his national diplomatic service and that of the European Union.

Prior to his current position he was the Chair of the Council Working Group on Asia – Oceania (COASI). The group brings together delegates from each EU member state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and meets weekly to prepare the decisions of the Council of the European Union on all matters pertaining to the two continents. From 2013 to mid-2015 he was Director General of Asia-Pacific Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Between 2011 and 2013 he was Head of the Policy Unit and Deputy Chief of Staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Grzegorzewski was Political Counsellor at the European Union Delegation to China and Mongolia from 2008-2011. This came after he served as COASI Representative at the Permanent Representation of Poland to the European Union (from 2005-2008). He graduated from the Polish Diplomatic Academy and the University of Warsaw with a specialisation in Chinese studies and international relations. He also studied at Nanjing Normal University in China and at Hanoi University in Vietnam.

Cost: NT$1,600 for members and NT$2,200 for members' guest(s)

Please note that participation may be limited based on Covid-19 restrictions at the time of the event.

To cancel without penalty, written cancellations must be received 24 hours prior to the event.