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Press Briefing Speaking Points for 21st September 2007
By George Cunningham, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the
European Commission Delegation in New Zealand
on the launch of the
JOINT DECLARATION ON RELATIONS AND COOPERATION BETWEEN
THE EUROPEAN UNION AND NEW ZEALAND
Welcome to the European Commission Delegation in Wellington. I’m also very happy to have arrived in Wellington just this week to take up my new position.
The Joint Declaration will be adopted in Lisbon later today between Foreign Minister Mr Luís Amado of Portugal (current holder of the Presidency of the European Union), European Commissioner for External Relations Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the New Zealand Foreign Minister Mr Winston Peters. This document combines and replaces the 1999 Joint Declaration on Relations Between the European Union and New Zealand as well as the 2004 Action Plan.
This is not a treaty. It is an important new document that will guide the EU-New Zealand bilateral relationship. It is not a radical redirection. But it is not business as usual either. It reinforces the strengths of the relationship and charts a path forward through further specific, practical proposals for cooperation.
New Zealand is important to the EU – the comparative sizes may not be symmetrical, but there is great commonality of values between the EU and New Zealand. The EU knows New Zealand to be an important ally in international fora and a strong voice for the values and ideals that EU citizens also treasure.
The EU is important to New Zealand. It is New Zealand’s second largest market after Australia and EU consumers are wealthy by world standards. New Zealand exports to Europe are diversifying into high-end niche food items and manufactured products, raw materials, machinery and technology components.
The bilateral relationship has moved a long way in a short space of time. Both sides have recognised that many of the objectives of the previous Joint Declaration have now been achieved and that new levels of ambition should now be considered.
Key achievements in the bilateral relationship since 1999:
This document replaces the 1999 Joint Declaration on Relations Between the European Union and New Zealand and the 2004 Action Plan. What has been achieved during this first formative period 1999-2007?:
- A informal dialogue at senior officials’ level on Common Foreign and Security Policy issues.
- NZ roles in EU-led peacekeeping/security missions (e.g. EUPOL in Afghanistan).
- Increased support – financial and in kind – from the EU and New Zealand to support European Union research and studies in New Zealand – see www.eucnetwork.org.nz
- Increased bilateral visits in the fields of RS&T, Education, Fisheries, Agriculture, Trade, Environment and Development Assistance.
- EU-New Zealand Sanitary Agreement into force (2003).
- Horizontal Air Services Agreement.
- Pilot project – “Leonardo” – for exchanges at tertiary education level.
- Increased NZ involvement in EU projects such as Erasmus Mundus and Framework Programmes for Research.
- Establishment of the European Commission Delegation in Wellington (2004).
- Establishment of Science and Education Counsellors at the New Zealand Mission in Brussels.
- Establishment of an office in New Zealand (FRENZ – www.frenz.org.nz) to promote linkages between EU and New Zealand scientists and researchers.
- Establishment of the Europe-New Zealand Business Council.
Key proposals in the Joint Declaration:
The last seven years have signalled a good start. Now the relationship can move ever closer. Among new initiatives, the following points can be highlighted:
- Closer cooperation between the Participants on counter-terrorism. Both the EU and New Zealand are committed to the ratification and implementation of all UN counter-terrorism conventions and protocols.
- Aim to negotiate and conclude a full air services agreement by end 2008.
- Work on a new Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, to facilitate more two-way research collaboration. Here I am pleased to announce that the European Commission was authorised this week by EU Member States to start negotiations with New Zealand.
- Continue work towards a Wine Agreement and a Customs Cooperation Agreement.
- Enhanced cooperation on climate change, including support for post-2012 international framework and carbon market
- New annual trade talks.
- Possible practical cooperation in the areas of investment promotion and developments in regulatory and competition policy approaches.
- Increased cooperation in the Pacific region, in particular maximising donor harmonisation and promote complementarity and appropriate division of labour between the various donors.
- Promote alignment between New Zealand qualifications framework and the European Qualifications Framework.
 
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