Celebrating 50 years: EU–Australia DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO AUSTRALIA 18 Arkana Street Yarralumla ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 2 6271 2777 Fax: +61 2 6273 4445 Email: [email protected] The official publication of the European Union Delegation Web: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/australia to Australia and New Zealand Celebrating 50 years: EU–Australia Published to mark the anniversary of 50 years of official EU–Australian relations Contents Forewords 4 Celebrating EU–Australia relations, Foreword by Ambassador David Daly, Head of the European Union Delegation to Australia and New Zealand 5 Valued partners with a bright future, Foreword by The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia 6 Commemorating 50 years, Foreword by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council 8 Shared values and institutional linkages, Foreword by Senator the Honourable Bob Carr, Foreign Minister of Australia 9 Investing in the future together, Foreword by Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission Conversations on the EU celebrating the 50th anniversary The creation of the EU, and the beginnings of EU–Australia relations 83 Why European nations joined the EU 94 Financial crisis, foreign policy and Australian 10 Timeline of EU–Australia relations: 1962–2012 relations 14 From a continent of war to one of peace and prosperity 20 The golden anniversary of diplomatic relations between The EU and its Member States Australia and the European Union 104 Enlarging the European Union 25 Diplomatic relations: Australian and European Ambassadors 105 EU Delegation in Australia 26 Creating a cooperative partnership 106 Austria Cooperation across many areas 107 Belgium 108 Bulgaria 34 The EU–Australia economic relationship 109 Croatia 40 Working together in the Asian century 110 Cyprus 46 The impact of Europe’s agricultural policy 111 Czech Republic 52 Addressing climate change together 112 Denmark 58 Vibrant collaboration in science and technology 113 Estonia 65 Partners in education and training 114 Finland 70 Student links and exchanges 115 France 72 The EU Centre initiative 116 Germany 76 Commitment to creativity and culture 2 117 Greece ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY TO BELGIUM The concept for this book arose from a series of public AND LUXEMBOURG AND AUSTRALIAN 118 Hungary conversations held throughout 2012 between Ambassadors MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION 119 Ireland of the EU Member States and Australian politicians, diplomats Level 7 and officials about why the European Union was created and Avenue des Arts 120 Italy how relations between the EU, and its member countries, 56 Brussels 1000 121 Latvia and Australia evolved. Belgium 121 Luxembourg Many people were involved in the preparation of this book – Tel: +32 2 286 0500 too many to name individually but our special thanks must go Fax: +32 2 230 6802 122 Lithuania to the EU Member State Missions, the staff and fellows of our Email: [email protected] 123 Malta Europe Centres (ANUCES, MEEUC and RMIT); our Radio National colleagues; and our Australian interlocutors. The names and PUBLISHED BY STROUDGATE 124 Netherlands titles of people referred to in the text were correct as at 2012. Stroudgate Pty Ltd 125 Poland 88 Canberra Ave Manuka ACT 2603 126 Portugal Australia 127 Romania Tel: +61 2 6260 6288 Fax: +61 2 6260 8122 128 Slovakia DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN Email: [email protected] UNION TO AUSTRALIA 129 Slovenia Web: www.stroudgate.net 18 Arkana Street 130 Spain Yarralumla ACT 2600 CEO and Publisher: Bruce Adams Editor: Petronella Nicholson 131 Sweden AUSTRALIA Editorial assistant: Ashleigh Wood 132 United Kingdom Tel: +61 2 6271 2777 Design: Natalie Opie Fax: +61 2 6273 4445 Email: [email protected] © Stroudgate and the Delegation Web: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/australia of the European Union to Australia. Media contact: Roger Camilleri All rights reserved. Celebrating 50 years: EU–Australia 3 FOREWORD Celebrating EU–Australia relations It gives me great pleasure to introduce this The huge success of creating commemorative book marking the 50th a single market of over anniversary of official EU–Australia relations. 500 million consumers across 28 countries has made the The concept for the book arose from a series EU a vital player in the global of public conversations held throughout 2012 economy, notwithstanding the between Ambassadors of the EU Member States current crisis. Indeed, the crisis and Australian politicians, diplomats and officials is propelling even much deeper about why the European Union was created and economic integration. how relations between the EU, and its member countries, and Australia evolved. We also discussed The advent of the Lisbon the challenges facing us today and the way forward. Treaty and the push for greater These discussions were moderated by the ABC’s common foreign security Paul Barclay, Network Ten’s Paul Bongiorno and Sky policy has also given Europe News’, Kieran Gilbert. My special thanks to all three a greater voice in global affairs for helping make these conversations interesting – although there is still a lot ‘A series of public and vibrant. more that could be done in this area. Former Foreign Minister conversations For anyone interested in listening to these of Australia, Gareth Evans, discussed why the conversations, podcasts are available on the was explicit when he said that EU Delegation’s website and also on the websites Europe was ‘punching below EU was created of the Radio National’s Big Ideas program and its weight’ when it came to the Australian National University Centre for foreign policy issues – and and how relations European Studies. many in Europe would agree with him. While there was between the EU and Of course, these conversations were held much agreement, there were very much against the backdrop of Europe’s Australia evolved.’ also interesting differences of financial debt crisis of the past three years opinion which were teased out and, as such, this topic was very much in the in these conversations. Ambassador David Daly limelight. However, the conversations enabled the participants to go beyond the doom and gloom I very much commend of many of the media headlines to engage in a Celebrating 50 years: EU– more detailed analysis. This yielded a much more Australia to you, and I hope optimistic outlook, namely, that the EU would you find it informative as well – as it has done with other crises in the past – as entertaining. • overcome these challenges and emerge even stronger. From what we have observed in 2013, and the substantial progress the EU has made Ambassador David Daly in improving economic and monetary union, Head of the European Union this optimism is duly justified. Delegation to Australia and New Zealand Participants also agreed that the European Union was a force for good and had paved the way for peace and prosperity in Europe. The notion of future wars between EU Member States, such as World War I in which 60,000 Australians died, has become simply unthinkable. 4 FOREWORD Valued partners with a bright future European integration since the end of World War II Australians visit Europe – each is a remarkable story of peace, stability and growth. year. Thousands of young people Determined never again to experience the calamity are studying in our respective of continental conflict, six countries – Germany, education institutions or France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and travelling under work Luxembourg – banded together as the European and holiday visa arrangements. Coal and Steel Community in 1951. Economically we are close From these hopeful beginnings, the union partners. The EU is the largest expanded its coverage to economic issues – source of foreign direct encapsulated in the common market – and later investment in Australia and the a joint political purpose. Today’s European Union second largest destination of numbers 28 Member States, as well as a Council Australia’s direct investment of Ministers, a Commission and a Parliament – abroad. Annual two-way trade an historic achievement. is worth over $80 billion. ‘Despite global Australia’s formal ties with the EU began in Despite global economic 1962 with the appointment of our first Ambassador uncertainty, the future of economic uncertainty, to the then European Economic Community. Australia–EU relations is bright. the future of Australia– Since that time, together we have built a dynamic We are developing new ways to relationship based on a shared commitment to work together, including areas EU relations is bright.’ freedom and democracy. such as crisis management and development cooperation. Australia and the EU are valued partners Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Changing geostrategic dynamics supporting global efforts to combat terrorism will present opportunities and and weapons proliferation. We work to overcome challenges for both of us. the challenges of climate change and financial As it has been for the past crisis, to promote sustainable development and 50 years, the EU will be a crucial encourage good governance. We collaborate global player in this period of closely in the United Nations, the G20 and the transformation. World Trade Organization. I commend this publication In many ways, enduring cultural and people-to- as a proud record of past people ties are the backbone of our relationship. achievements and a sign of the Today, 70% of Australians have European ancestry. growth and prosperity I’m sure Thirty thousand new European migrants arrive we will achieve in the years and in Australia annually. Over one million Europeans decades to come. • visit Australia – and around the same number of The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP Prime Minister of Australia Celebrating 50 years: EU–Australia 5 Foreword Commemorating 50 years We warmly welcome this book commemorating the 50th anniversary of EU–Australia relations.