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Australia's Relations with the European Union
Australia and the European Union (EU) enjoy a constructive and substantial bilateral relationship built on a shared commitment to freedom and democratic values and a like-minded approach to a broad range of international issues. In support of these shared commitments Australia and the EU work together to support global efforts to combat terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear and conventional weapons, to coordinate our efforts to respond to the challenges of climate change and the global financial crisis and to promote peace, sustainable development, good governance and human rights.
The 27 members of the EU as a bloc is one of Australia's largest trading and investment partners. Australia and the EU cooperate increasingly closely in the Asia-Pacific region, including to enhance security, stability and good governance, and to improve the coordination of development cooperation assistance among donors to the region. The EU is a significant provider of aid to the Pacific and South East Asia. Australia has a number of formal bilateral agreements with the EU and its institutions. Some of the key recent agreements are described in this brief.
Australia and the EU use a Partnership Framework to shape the future direction of bilateral cooperation. The framework was launched during Australia-EU Ministerial Consultations in Paris on 29 October 2008. It is a living document which outlines specific cooperative activities and is designed to be revised regularly. The first revision of the Partnership Framework, launched during the Australia-EU Ministerial Consultations in Stockholm on 8 October 2009, provides an updated focus on practical cooperation in the following areas:
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shared foreign policy and global security interests
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the multilateral rules-based trading system and the bilateral trade and investment relationship
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the Asia-Pacific region
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energy issues, climate change and fisheries and forestry
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science, research, technology and innovation, education and culture and facilitating the movement of people.
The original framework replaced the June 1997 Australia-European Union Joint Declaration on Relations (PDF) and the subsequent March 2003-08 Agenda for Cooperation (PDF). The Partnership Framework will continue to be updated regularly to ensure its focus is practical and reflects the evolving agenda of Australia's cooperation with the EU.
Australian and EU representatives regularly meet for discussions and consultations at Ministerial and officials level in the margins of international conferences, in addition to regular officials-level bilateral forums covering specific policy issues, such as the Trade Policy Dialogue, the Agricultural Trade and Marketing Experts' Group (ATMEG) talks and the Australia-EU Talks on Asia (Co-ASI).
The EU has been represented in Australia since 1981 by a Delegation of the European Commission, now a Delegation of the European Union. The Delegation's role is to represent the EU; to further develop bilateral relations in the political, economic, commercial, environment, social and cultural fields, including new opportunities for cooperation; to inform the EU 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 to raise awareness of the EU in Australia and New Zealand. The Delegation is not responsible for trade promotion or consular matters, which are handled by the embassies, consulates, trade commissioners or national tourism offices of EU member states.
The 27 members of the EU as a bloc constitute Australia's largest foreign investor. At the end of 2008, EU foreign direct investment in Australia totalled $133 billion – approximately 34 per cent of Australia's total inwards foreign direct investment. The UK dominates EU foreign direct investment in Australia (accounting for 45 per cent of the EU total). The Netherlands (19 per cent), Germany (10 per cent), and France (10 per cent) are also significant investors.
The EU accounted for $42.6 billion of outwards Australian direct investment as at 31 December 2008. Our largest direct investments in Europe were in the United Kingdom (54 per cent of Australian direct investment in the EU), Germany (19 per cent) and the Netherlands (13 per cent).