His Excellency Mr Bruno Julien

Ambassador

Delegation of the European Union to Australia and New Zealand

Speech at the University of Sydney

On the occasion of the visit of the
European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth,
Mr Ján Figel'

19 April 2007

Distinguished Guests,

Thank you very much for coming to this respected institution, the University of Sydney.

I would like to set the scene for the presentation by Commissioner Figel' by outlining the importance of the EU- Australia relationship and how important education is for this relationship.

Europe has always been important to Australia. Indeed over 90% of Australians claim European ancestry. But equally Australia is important to Europe . It is almost impossible to tell someone in Europe that you live in Australia without them having a parent or a friend there too.

In a few days time, during the Anzac celebrations, we will honour those Australians who fought and died beside us in the great wars and these sad times forged a great bond between us.

Today fortunately we can reflect on all the good things that the EU has now brought. Recently the Independent Newspaper in the UK published 50 good things and they included:

• the end of war between European Nations,
• a flourishing democracy,
• the world's largest trading market,
• mobility for people, goods, capital and investment . the list goes on.

These are things that have been good for Europeans but the EU has been good for the rest of the world too.

We are the largest donor in the world of humanitarian and development aid for instance.

We are leading the charge against climate change

EU peacekeepers operate around the world.

This year we can celebrate several important anniversaries, at least 4 of them:

First, 50 Years ago, the Treaty of Rome was signed and six countries became the forerunner of today's 27 Member State European Union.

Second, 25 years ago in Canberra, the EU opened one of its first Delegations in the world . Now we have almost 150 delegations spread across the world.

Third, 10 years ago the EU and Australia signed a Declaration to form the basis for a closer bilateral relationship.

This Joint Declaration recognises the common values and ideals of the European Union and of Australia and outlines mutual objectives for cooperation across a wide range of areas including security, mutual recognition of standards, trade policy, environment, transport, energy, development and research and education.

It has enabled us to set up projects and programs, dialogues and exchanges on all the above topics and many more besides.

Fourth, 5 years ago the Joint Declaration was complemented by an Agenda for Cooperation which prioritised the areas for our cooperation over the following five years. This has enabled us to target our mutual resources to those issues which are of most importance to us at the time: issues such as security, energy, environment etc.

Since the opening of our Delegation and the adoption of the Joint Declaration and the Agenda for Cooperation, both the EU and the EU-Australia relationship have evolved still further.

• In the EU we have completed the 5th enlargement.
• The EU now has a special representative for Foreign Affairs as well as for Counter Terrorism.
• We have a functioning single currency
• and a vibrant single market bringing a variety of consumer choice unthinkable 50 years ago.

The EU may be 50 years old but although she is mature, she is still dynamic.

So too is the EU-Australia relationship but one thing has remained constant - the EU is still Australia's main economic partner in terms of trade and investments, contributing to more than 10% of the workforce employed in Australia.

We could probably equally publish a list of 50 things that the EU and Australia have achieved in its 10 year relationship but I will not try to do so here. We recently undertook a stock-take of the activities in which we have been involved since we signed the Joint Declaration. The list is long and I will only give a few examples:

• We have a wine agreement which was signed in 1994 -the first one to be signed outside of Europe . It provides mutual recognition of wine making practices, geographical indications and traditional expressions.
• We have initialled a horizontal aviation agreement which will remove the nationality restrictions contained in existing bilateral air services agreements between EU Member States and Australia
• Mutual Recognition Agreements on Conformity Assessment were signed in 1999. These MRAs facilitate trade by allowing testing inspection and certification of products to be undertaken in the exporting country.
• We have a very successful Science and Technology Agreement. This agreement has allowed Australian and European researchers to take part in joint projects thus sharing their expertise and bringing to Europe and Australia ..
• Last but not least, Education is the jewel in the crown of our relationship. Many Australian students take part in Erasmus Mundus - our international student mobility program and many European Students come to Australia to do part of their European Masters program here in your fine universities. .
• Many Australian institutions are partners with European Institutions in both this program and in our bilateral programs which have seen more than 500 students undertake courses in Australian and European Universities .

These few examples serve to show the increasing breadth of our engagement and the heightened cooperation which in part is reflected by the further enlargement and integration of the European Union and its growing role in economic, foreign and security policy, justice and home affairs. In these areas, the EU and Australia is finding more and more that it can and should cooperate -

• On security Europol has signed an agreement with the Australian Federal Police for closer cooperation, making our world a safer place.
• We work closely with Australia on projects under the Bali Process to help the Asia Pacific Region deal with issues such as terrorism and people trafficking.
• Our development and humanitarian aid programs complement and enhance those of Australia in disaster areas such as the Solomon Islands and Aceh following the terrible Tsunamis.

Now the Australian Government and the European Commission has embarked on a period of reflection to determine how to further enhance our already very successful cooperation.

We envisage an update of the Joint Declaration in 2008, which will reflect our growing cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, conflict resolution and the growth of peace and stability in South East Asia and the Pacific, energy security and environment.

Research and education however will remain a central pillar of our cooperation. We are not even waiting for the new Joint Declaration to enhance our relations in the Education field.

Yesterday Commissioner Figel' and Minister Julie Bishop signed a Declaration of Intent which will further strengthen our cooperation in the fields of education and vocational training.

The Declaration will support projects to facility mobility, encourage joint curriculum development and promote transparent mutual recognition of qualification and periods of study and training.

The foundation for every State is the education of its youth and the best provision for old age. This means far more that just ensuring that our children will look after us in our old age!!!

This means Hope. Hope for all of us - Hope that we can solve the environmental, social and economic challenges facing our planet - The more continents can work together to resolve these challenges the more successful we will be and the more peaceful and prosperous our old age will be.

The EU - Australia relationship is deep and broad and strong and I am proud to be here today as the Ambassador for the European Commission and to be able to play a part in continuing this great relationship.

I will pass you now to Commissioner Figel' who will discuss the changes in education and in its provision and its institutions and what we can do to ensure that our youth and not just our youth but all of us, for Education is a Life Long process - to ensure that we are all equipped to face the challenges of this world.

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