ECCT urges Taiwan to strengthen energy resilience for AI era

Taipei, May 26 (CNA) The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) on Tuesday urged Taiwan to secure a stable and sustainable energy supply to help its semiconductor and AI industries maintain competitiveness.

Speaking at the chamber's 2026 Europe Day Dinner in Taipei, ECCT Chairperson Tina Graves said Taiwan's role at the center of global semiconductor supply chains had made reliable electricity supply increasingly important.

"For Taiwan to maintain competitiveness in the AI industry, it is critical to ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply," Graves said.

The event, attended by more than 800 guests including President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), government officials and business leaders, commemorated Europe Day and the 1950 Schuman Declaration that laid the foundation for the European Union.

Graves said the ongoing war in the Middle East has exposed the risks faced by economies heavily dependent on imported energy, arguing that locally sourced renewables such as wind, solar and geothermal power offered "the optimal path to energy security."

She noted that many European companies had already invested heavily in Taiwan's renewable energy sector and said ECCT members are ready to support the government's net-zero transition goals.

Graves also called on the government to adopt additional ECCT recommendations for offshore wind development and renewable energy permits, saying the measures would help "accelerate energy transition grounded in trust and accountability."

The ECCT is a business association representing more than 450 European companies and organizations with investments and operations in Taiwan.

On transportation, Graves said Taiwan should speed up electric vehicle adoption through tax incentives, subsidies and clearer charging safety regulations, warning that continued tax support for internal combustion engine vehicles could send "mixed signals" about Taiwan's energy transition goals.

In his remarks, Lai said Taiwan and Europe have deepened economic and trade ties based on shared democratic values, noting that Taiwan's investment in EU member states surged by 650 percent over the past decade.

"Peace cannot be taken for granted," Lai said. "It requires solidarity and mutual responsibility."