European Commission President Barroso visits Australia and New Zealand, 4-9 September 2011
The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso will visit Australia from 4-7 September and New Zealand
from 7-9 September.
Ahead of the visit, President Barroso said: "I look forward to a very constructive and substantive visit to two key
global partners and friends of the European Union. Despite the geographic distance, Australia and New Zealand are very
close partners with whom we share the same values and strong links and want to shape a rules-based global system."
In New Zealand, President Barroso will meet Prime Minister Key and political and business leaders and deliver the Europa
Lecture at the University of Auckland. He will also attend the Pacific Islands Forum and meet Pacific leaders in
Auckland to discuss the Union's role in tackling climate change in the region.
In Australia, the President will hold talks with Prime Minister Gillard, her Cabinet and other political leaders as well
as representatives of the business community and civil society, and give a keynote speech at the Australian National
University.
"In New Zealand," said President Barroso, "I will discuss a reinforcement of bilateral ties as a way to give greater
impetus to our common interests and values. I will also discuss our shared political approach towards the Pacific. In
the same vein, at the Pacific Islands Forum, I will reemphasise the key role the EU intends to play as the region’s
second largest donor to promote sustainable development and in helping to mitigate the impact of climate change in the
region."
"In Australia, building on Prime Minister Gillard's visit to Brussels in October last year, I will discuss ways to
deepen our already vibrant relationship: from even stronger cooperation in the G20 and our joint work to promote
sustained growth and global financial stability to specific bilateral success stories, like the new Euratom-Australia
Agreement, which I will sign in Canberra, a revised agreement on the transfer of Passenger Name Records, which reflects
our shared security interests, and more joint innovation and education activities. To give a solid foundation to this
upgraded, privileged partnership, we are committed to move forward with a new, ambitious Framework Agreement which we
will start negotiating very soon."
On his way to Australia, President Barroso will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Lee of Singapore to discuss
ways to bolster global financial stability and give a further impetus to the ongoing negotiations both on a Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement and on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
ENDS