Canberra, 29 October 2008
New EU-Australia Partnership Framework endorsed during the EU-Australia Troika meeting in Paris
Later today, 29 October, in Paris, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will participate in the EU-Australia Foreign Ministers' Troika meeting. The Troika will meet with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to take stock of EU-Australia relations and to formally endorse the new EU-Australia Partnership Framework, which will form the basis of the bilateral relationship for the years to come.
Before the meeting, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said:
“The EU attaches great importance to its relations with Australia. Australia is a key player in the Asia-Pacific region and a key partner for the European Union on issues like the world economic system, climate change and energy security as well as international and regional security. We have seen an intensification of our relations over the last couple of years, leading to progress on visa reciprocity for all EU citizens, and the imminent start of negotiations on a comprehensive air services agreement. We have signed a Passenger Name Record Agreement in June 2008 and are upgrading our dialogue in the field of counterterrorism. The new Partnership Framework provides a good platform for us to further expand our bilateral relations like trade and investment as well as our cooperation on the world stage.”
The new EU-Australia Partnership Framework
The EU-Australia bilateral relationship is based on the 1997 Joint Declaration and the 2003 Cooperation Agenda, which have now been merged into a single new, more flexible and modern Partnership Framework. The new document will place even more emphasis on security and counter terrorism cooperation; cooperation in the Asian and Pacific regions; education; on science & technology; and on cooperation in the field of environment, climate change and energy.
The new document includes an Action Plan implementing 5 objectives (strengthen dialogue and cooperation on shared foreign policy and global security interests; promote the multilateral rules-based trading system, and expand the bilateral trade and investment relationship; enhance cooperation and coordination in the Asia and Pacific regions; cooperate on energy issues and climate change; strengthen cooperation in research, education and innovation and facilitate exchanges of people). Concrete examples are:
- Promotion of the International Criminal Court in the South East Asia / Pacific Region
- Joint support for UN mission regarding Burma/Myanmar
- Negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding for technical cooperation on aviation security
- Negotiation of a comprehensive air services agreement
- Creation of an optimum environment for trade and investment
- Enhancing aid effectiveness through development of common aid modalities
- Exchange of information on human rights issues in Asia and the Pacific
- Accelerating the development, demonstration and deployment of carbon capture and storage
The EU has been the main economic partner of Australia for over 25 years. The EU is Australia's main partner in terms of two-way trade in goods, being its biggest source of imports and third largest market for exports. The EU is also the principal market for Australia's services exports and largest source of its services imports.
BACKGROUND MEDIA BRIEFING
WHAT: Background briefing by officials on the Australia-EU Partnership Framework.
WHEN: 11:00am Thursday 30 October 2008
WHERE:
Treaties Room, DFAT (Ground Floor)
RG Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton, Canberra
For more information: http://www.delaus.ec.europa.eu\eu_and_australia\PartnershipFramework\index.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/australia/intro/index.htm
Canberra Contacts:
Roger Camilleri
Senior Adviser – Media & Public Affairs
Tel +61 2 6271 2744;
Email: roger.camilleri@ec.europa.eu
Jan Skorich
Communications Officer
Tel +61 2 6271 2747;
Email: jan.skorich@ec.europa.eu
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