The NCC Chairperson Dr. Howard Shyr, received Mrs. Ann Cahill, the President of Belgian International Press Association (Association de la Presse Internationale, API), on June 14, 2013. The purpose of this meeting was to exchange views on Taiwan’s press freedom and other media related topics.
　The API was established on June 27, 1957, which was the merge of Union of Foreign Press in Belgium and Union and the Association of Journalists of the European Press , and was the first organization brought together the foreign journalists of all categories and specializations based in Belgium. Its members are mainly international journalists dispatched to Brussels to gather materials related to European Union and relevant international organizations. Apart from journalists, media employees and freelancers are also eligible for API members.
　Due to the first time to visit Taiwan, the API President Mrs. Ann Cahill aimed to understand the content, media ecology, media operation patterns, and the relations between press freedom and media regulations in Taiwan. She also exchanged her points of view in media management, the reciprocal influence of politics and media, the internet influences on print media and so forth. In addition, the NCC staffs also discussed with Mrs. Ann Cahill about the current status and trends of European media reports, such as “Der Spiegel” (Germany) and “The Guardian” (U.K.). Besides, Mrs. Ann Cahill also paid a great attention on how NCC played the role of media regulator without threatening press freedom. The NCC Chairperson Dr. Howard Shyr not only detailed how the NCC functions, but also explained that the process of making decisions is based on Fundamental Communications Act and is also following the Administrative Procedure Act for maintaining the legitimacy of the decision-making process proactively. In the meantime, he also mentioned that NCC is now promoting the legislation of “Media Monopolization Prevention and Diversity Preservation Act(媒體壟斷防制與多元維護法)” in order to maintain the expertise and autonomy of news media, as well as to encourage the development of diversified culture and civil autonomy.
　Through this meeting, the President of Belgian International Press Association (Association de la Presse Internationale, API) Mrs. Ann Cahill not only acquired an extensive knowledge of Taiwanese media, but also exchanged views in different aspects with NCC regarding current issues that both API and Taiwan were confronting.