The European Union, unlike many countries which have tried regional integration previously, have managed to great success to merge a continent. The evolution over 50 years has lead to 27 countries (around 493 million people), going through a metamorphic like transition from European Economic Community, to European Community through to how it is referred to today as the “European Union” (EU).
“American realpolitists like to talk about a ‘unipolar’ world, bestrode upon by a sole superpower. The success of the European Union proves just the opposite: the world is bipolar, ant the other pole is Europe”
– Andrew Moravscik
However, it must be noted that there is still quite a few countries in Europe that are not included in the European Union. In order to understand how the developments are significant to NZ in the present, it is first important to understand the formation of the EU.
- •1951 European Coal and Steel Community established (Treaty of Paris)
- •1957 European Economic Community & Euratom established (Treaty of Rome)
- •1986 Single European Act
- •1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall
- •1992 Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) signed
- •1997 Treaty of Amsterdam signed
- •1999 Economic and Monetary Union begins
- •2002 Introduction of euro finalised
- •2007 Signing of the Treaty of Lisbon
However, it must be noted that there is still quite a few countries in Europe that are not included in the European Union. In order to understand how the developments are significant to NZ in the present, it is first important to understand the formation of the EU.
- •1951 European Coal and Steel Community established (Treaty of Paris)
- •1957 European Economic Community & Euratom established (Treaty of Rome)
- •1986 Single European Act
- •1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall
- •1992 Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) signed
- •1997 Treaty of Amsterdam signed
- •1999 Economic and Monetary Union begins
- •2002 Introduction of euro finalised
- •2007 Signing of the Treaty of Lisbon
The relationship between the European Union and New Zealand is apparent in many countries, as NZ has representation in Belgium (also covering Luxembourg and the EU), France, Germany (which also covers Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland), Holland (which also covers Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden), Italy (which also covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia), Polans (also covers Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Russia (which also covers Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmensitan and Uzbekistan), United Kingdom (including Ireland) and recently Sweden.
“It has been said by Europeans that New Zealand fulfils all the requirements for EU membership, apart from geographical location”
-Peters (2008)
The current relationship that exists between NZ and the EU is considered to be that of a very positive one, however, not completely essential. Due to NZ’s small size in comparison to that of the whole EU, NZ can be easily overlooked in many areas. One area that proves importance for NZ and the EU is the fact that it is NZ’s second largest export location, after Australia. The key country, not surprisingly, is Britain with the main exports including butter, sheep meat, kiwifruit and apples. Recently (2007) there were a series of EU-NZ talks since then there has been a number of high level visits both from the EU and to NZ. In particular, the EU External Relations Commissioner (Bernita Ferrero-Waldner) visited NZ in 2007.
Trade is also dominant feature of the bilateral relationship. The NZ and EU has been experiencing increased trade figures since 1990 this caused the trade figue in 2005 to reach a total trade figure of € 6197 million representing 16% of NZ’s total trade. About three-quarters of New Zealand exports to the EU consist of agricultural products. EU exports to New Zealand are made up mainly of cars, medicines, machinery, telecommunication equipment, transport material and chemicals.
Trade in services between EU and NZ represented in 2005 20% of total trade and areas of particular interest for NZ are air and sea transport, telecommunications and tourism. EU citizens are an important source of New Zealand’s income from tourism: around 20% of all short-term visitor arrivals in New Zealand during 2005 were from EU Member States.
The Euro has become an important trading currency for New Zealand. Approximately 40% of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s foreign exchange reserves are held in Euro.
An opportunity to increase co-operation between the EU and NZ came in form of the EU-NZ Joint Declaration 2007. This declaration reflects the broadening relationship and sets out the specific areas in which the NZ and EU can work together and illustrates the similar values and aspirations. There are many areas that are emerging where co-operation between the EU and NZ is apparent.
These include:
Pacific development
Human rights
Multilaterism
Trade
Counter-terrorism
Environmental issues
Education and science
Trade in services between EU and NZ represented in 2005 20% of total trade and areas of particular interest for NZ are air and sea transport, telecommunications and tourism. EU citizens are an important source of New Zealand’s income from tourism: around 20% of all short-term visitor arrivals in New Zealand during 2005 were from EU Member States.
The Euro has become an important trading currency for New Zealand. Approximately 40% of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s foreign exchange reserves are held in Euro.
An opportunity to increase co-operation between the EU and NZ came in form of the EU-NZ Joint Declaration 2007. This declaration reflects the broadening relationship and sets out the specific areas in which the NZ and EU can work together and illustrates the similar values and aspirations. There are many areas that are emerging where co-operation between the EU and NZ is apparent.
These include:
Pacific development
Human rights
Multilaterism
Trade
Counter-terrorism
Environmental issues
Education and science
The EU and New Zealand share many common views in the field of foreign and security policy take a similar stance on many international issues. The joint declaration (mentioned above) features a number of common goals, such as the support of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Just like the EU, NZ is committed to a global system based on multilateral rules and to the promotion of the effectiveness of the UN. The EU and NZ have shared interests in the WTO and on Climate Change, sustainable development and the protection of the global environment, an example being the fact that both New Zealand and EU have ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
Both the EU and NZ are seeking to unite on such issues as development and aim to continue to share each others analysis and respective strategies for the Pacific region with the aim of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in that part of the world. Furthermore, both the EU and NZ are supporting regional integration in South East Asia and are actively participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum
Both the EU and NZ are seeking to unite on such issues as development and aim to continue to share each others analysis and respective strategies for the Pacific region with the aim of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in that part of the world. Furthermore, both the EU and NZ are supporting regional integration in South East Asia and are actively participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum
“Following the July 2006 ruling of the European Court of Justice in the Egenberger case, the Commission had to review the import regime of New Zealand butter in order to ensure non-discriminatory access to the quota. The Commission and New Zealand reached an understanding in November 2006 on the way this ruling should be be implemented”
- EU
New Zealand and the European Union