18 December 2007

EU highlights Australia as vital world partner

The launch of the EU's magnificent new balloon on 19 December in Canberra will highlight the importance the EU places on its partnership with Australia in areas of global importance such as foreign policy, trade, the environment and research.

From now on the blue and gold emblem of the European Union (EU) will appear regularly in the Australian sky as a symbol of European unity and the ever-expanding relationship between the EU and Australia.

The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Australia and New Zealand, Bruno Julien said, “I look forward to seeing this balloon over Canberra as a testimony of our strong alliance with Australia, our presence in this country for over 25 years and our growing cooperation in several fields.”

Wednesday's launch will focus on the expanding relations between the EU and Australia with Professor Ian Frazer, Scottish immigrant and 2006 Australian of the Year, making a special presentation to highlight EU-Australia collaboration in research, science and technology. Professor Frazer is the inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine, which is being used throughout the world. Over his career, Professor Frazer's research has been supported through a range of international research programmes, an area that is vital to EU-Australia cooperation.

Professor Frazer said, Research is done in a global village – the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is an excellent example of how collaborative research leads to benefits to all of humankind.”

“Research collaborations between Europe and Australia are natural given the strong social ties between the Australian community and the many countries of the European Union,” Frazer added.

Ambassador Julien said, “Our advance toward a safer and better world is supported by the strong values, goals and practices of the EU that we share with many countries, but with Australia in particular,”

“We have a robust relationship with Australia – not just in trade and investment which I suppose is the most visible - but also cooperation in areas such as the protection of the environment, in promoting regional security, development aid in the Pacific and increasingly in the area of research, science and technology.”

“The EU balloon is a symbol of movement and progress - onwards and upwards - which is also represented by the advance of Europe through the new Treaty, improving economy and enlargement,” Ambassador Julien explained.

As Balloon Aloft's flagship, the EU balloon adorned with the blue and gold emblem of the EU will fly regularly in Canberra and the region.

The Ambassador said he hoped the presence of the balloon in the Australian sky will continue to remind people of the important ties Australians have with Europe and the progress of European integration.

The EU family and the diplomatic community will be joined by the Australian government, business leaders, academia and the research community at the balloon launch on Wednesday, 19 December from 7:30am to 9:00am, Old Parliament House (Members Dining Room 2).

Interview and photo opportunities with EU Ambassadors and Professor Frazer on the day.

Copyright free photos and vision of the EU balloon flying over Canberra are available on request.

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Updated December 18, 2007