Welcome to the Gateway to the European Union in New Zealand
From here, you can access information about
what the EU is doing in New Zealand. Get up-to-date on all our
political, economic, academic and cultural activities. This web
portal provides all necessary links to EU Member States and the
European Union Delegation as well as New Zealand organisations
dealing with Europe.
This web portal is managed by the New Zealand Europe Business
Council with the support of the Delegation of the European
Union to New Zealand.
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EU 2009 Review
George Cunningham, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU
Delegation to New Zealand said: "It's really been a busy
and fulfilling year for the EU-New Zealand relationship.
Much has been achieved since our Joint Declaration was
adopted a couple of years ago".
Here are just some of 2009's highlights: cooperation
in the Pacific on such issues as renewable energy,
disaster relief for Samoa and Tonga, as well as the Fiji
issue; continuing recognition of each others' food
safety standards which will soon let in mouth-watering
European unpasteurised cheeses; the removal of EU dairy
export refunds for European farmers now dairy prices
have strengthened; increased NZ participation from 36 to
109 EU science and technology project proposals; the
initialling of an updated Mutual Recognition Agreement;
the establishment of teaching modules about the EU for
New Zealand secondary schools; eleven New Zealanders
receiving Erasmus Mundus scholarships to study in
Europe; an intense exchange of views on climate change
in the run up to Copenhagen; supporting each other at
multilateral fora on such issues as Doha, whaling and
fisheries; and not least our congratulations for the €1
million EU grant to the EU Centres Network coordinated
from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch to
promote EU studies in all New Zealand's universities.
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Estonian Hon Consul Tõnu Loorpärg, Charles Chauvel MP
and David Hollander at the reception
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EU Delegation End of Year Reception
On 8th December, around a
hundred members of the Diplomatic Corps, EU Honorary
Consuls and members of the New Zealand-EU Parliamentary
Friendship Group came together to celebrate the end of a
successful year.
The event was hosted at the EU
residence by Chargé d'Affaire a.i George Cunningham and
his wife, Florence, alongside Charles Chauvel MP, Chair
of the NZEUPFG. The EU Delegation was particularly
pleased to welcome Ambassador Krassimir Stefanov of the
Republic of Bulgaria and Ambassador Eva Ponomarenkova of
the Slovak Republic who had come over from Canberra for
their accreditation ceremony the next day. As has become
customary for this regular occasion, Wellington's
famed wind blew particularly noticeably throughout
the evening.
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EU President Mr Herman van Rompuy,
Swedish EU Presidency Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt,
EC President Mr José Manuel Barroso,
EUHR Baroness Ashton
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The European Union Delegation is Born
On 1st December, the Lisbon
Treaty came into force. As part of the worldwide
change-over, the Delegation of the European Commission
to New Zealand has become the Delegation of the European
Union. It forms part of the new EU European
External Action Service (EEAS) under the authority of
Baroness Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative
of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
EU Delegations will continue their work in close
cooperation with diplomatic services of EU Member
States. EEAS staff will be drawn eventually from three
sources: relevant departments of the General Secretariat
of the Council, of the Commission and of national
diplomatic services of Member States.
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