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