The European Union in Australia

The Role of the Delegation

The European Union is represented in Australia by a Delegation in Canberra and, in New Zealand, by a Delegation in Wellington. The Canberra Delegation was established in 1981 and was accredited to New Zealand in 1984. The Delegation in Wellington was opened in 2005. The Delegations have full diplomatic privileges and immunities with the Head of Delegation (based in Canberra) accorded full ambassadorial status in both Australia and New Zealand.

The Delegations are responsible for the conduct of official relations between Australia and the European Community, and New Zealand and the European Community. In all matters pertaining to the European Union, the Delegations work closely with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States, particularly the one representing the EU Presidency, which rotates every six months. The Delegations are a natural point of contact between the EU and the Australian and New Zealand authorities as well as other interested parties in these countries.

The principal objectives of the Delegation are:

• To represent the Commission, as appropriate, in Australia and New Zealand.
• To further develop bilateral relations in the political, economic, commercial, environment, social and cultural fields, including new opportunities for cooperation.
• To inform the Commission on political, economic, trade and development matters in both Australia and New Zealand.
• To promote and protect the EU's interests and values and to spread knowledge and raise awareness of the EU and its policies particularly among selected targeted audiences in Australia and New Zealand.

The means used to achieve these goal and objectives include:

• To make and maintain contact with key interlocutors across the political, media, economic, commercial, education, environment, social and cultural fields at the Federal and State level.
• To keep principal players in Australia and New Zealand informed of key developments in the EU.
• To foster close cooperation on overall EU matters with Member State missions via regular meetings at Ambassador, Counsellor, Information and Administration Officer levels.
• To provide regular and ad hoc reports to the Commission on political, economic, trade and development matters in Australia and New Zealand, including monthly country reports.
• To undertake press and information activities to promote and protect the EU's interests and engendering a better understanding of EU affairs, its policies, purpose and aims with a view to establishing a higher profile for the EU.
• To facilitate the negotiation and implementation of bilateral agreements between the EU and Australia and New Zealand, through appropriate contacts.
• To seek to develop and encourage initiatives to promote broadly based cooperation with the aim of strengthening the bilateral relationship further.

The Delegations do not, however, deal with trade promotion, consular matters or other issues which have traditionally been handled by the Member State embassies, consulates, trade commissioners or national tourism offices.

Principal agreements between the EU and Australia include the European Union - Australia Partnership Framework signed on 29 October 2008, updating the Joint Declaration on Relations between the European Union and Australia, signed on 26 June 1997.

The European Commission has agreements and prospective agreements with Australia and New Zealand in the following areas: Science & Technology (Aus), Wine (Australia), Veterinary Inspection (Aus/NZ), Nuclear Safeguards (Aus), Conformity Assessment (Aus/NZ).

Together with the official representations of the Member States in Australia there are several other organisations which promote relations between the EU and Australia:

European Australian Business Council (EABC) is a national body established to promote the business interests of the Member States of the European Union which are represented by Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It is based in Sydney.

Europe Centres : The success of the National Europe Centre (NEC) at the Australian National University prompted an evaluation of similar Centres around the world with the result that the European Commission selected three proposals for Europe Centres in Australia.

The goal of these Centres is to promote the study of the EU, to increase the understanding of the EU project in Australia, to highlight the EU-Australia relationship and to encourage and stimulate greater interest in EU affairs across all sectors, schools, government, industry, academe, media and the public at large.

Australian Council for Europe (ACE) is a non-profit organisation established to promote Australia's relations with Europe. Its main chapter is in Brisbane.

Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) is a non-political networking organisation which provides the means for those interested in business between Europe and Australia to establish contact with similarly dedicated colleagues. ABIE has branches in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

Australian European University Fellowships Foundations Association Incorporated is a grouping of several Australian Universities and has entered into a cooperation agreement with the European University Institute in Florence aimed at running an exchange programme between Australian and European students.

There are also many bilateral organisations established to promote business, cultural and academic relations between Australia and New Zealand and the individual Member States of the European Union.

The Delegations issue news releases and other publications on EU matters with relevance to Australia and New Zealand. The Delegation in Canberra also produces a free weekly e-newsletter (news@eu) aimed at both Australian and New Zealand audiences, as well as a quarterly hard copy publication called EU Review. The newsletters are aimed at an Australian and New Zealand audience with business, political and cultural interest in the EU. To subscribe click here. The Delegation also has an Information Centre dealing with enquiries relating to the EU, its institutions, legislation, statistics and publications. Some promotional material is also available on request. The information Centre liaises with the other sources of EU documentation located across Australia and New Zealand.

Delegation of the European Union to Australia
18 Arkana Street
Yarralumla ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

General tel: + 61 2 6271 2777
General fax: + 61 2 6273 4445
General emails: delegation-australia@ec.europa.eu

this page updated May 14, 2010