Joint Media Release
FA40 - 16 April 2003
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, Minister for Trade Mark Vaile and EU Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten
Australia - European Commission Ministerial Consultations
The 19th Ministerial Consultations between Australia and the European Commission held in Melbourne today focused on a range of bilateral and international issues and underlined the strength of our cooperation.
We agreed that since the signing in 1997 of the Joint Declaration between Australia and the European Union, we have achieved a dynamic work program across a broad agenda. In the Joint Declaration, we have also created a framework for constructive consultations in areas where the two sides do not share common ground (the details are set out in a 'stocktake' document available online at www.dfat.gov.au).
Looking ahead, we reviewed our cooperation and identified priorities for our future work. These will involve intensified cooperation on: security and strategic issues including counter-terrorism; ambitious outcomes on trade including improving the international trading environment to benefit least-developed countries; strengthening our links on education and science and technology; pursuing common interests in major international developments in transport and the environment agenda; building our joint capacity to deliver development cooperation programs in the Asia-Pacific region and managing the challenges posed by global people flows (see documents: Stocktake of Australia – EU Cooperation and Dialogue [pdf] and Australia and the European Union: An agenda for cooperation [pdf] also available at http://www.delaus.cec.eu.int).
We had an in-depth discussion on international issues, including recent developments in the DPRK, Iraq, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. We recognise we will continue to share a vital interest in consulting regularly on our respective approaches to an increasingly complex and challenging global environment.
We also had a vigorous and frank exchange on the tough issues currently at the forefront of the WTO Doha negotiating round, including on our divergent positions on agricultural trade. We will nevertheless continue in our efforts to ensure an ambitious approach overall.
We discussed the historic transformations being undertaken in the European Union, including its expansion to 25 Members by 2004 and the re-examination of its fundamental institutions. Australia’s Foreign and Trade Policy White Paper explicitly recognises the role of the European Union as a global actor and the advantages in strengthening our bilateral relations with an increasingly integrated Europe.
Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) +61 02 6277 7500 / Julie McDonald (Departmental) 02 6261 1555