Newsletter: EU leaders meet Prime Minister Bill English

Newsletter
N°129

12 January 2017

EU leaders meet Prime Minister Bill English

On 10 January New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English arrived in Brussels for meetings with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. The leaders reviewed the bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen them even further.

President Tusk also stated that both countries should sign a free trade agreement and said he hoped that the negotiations could be launched as early as this year. Such an agreement, according to President Tusk, would ‘not only boost sustainable economic growth, investment and job creation on both sides. It would also send a strong political signal of economic openness and trade at a time where protectionist pressures are on the rise’.

Turning to the migration and refugee crisis, the leaders discussed humanitarian aid, resettlement and other support provided by New Zealand. They also stressed the need for a political solution to end the conflict in Syria and reiterated the call on all sides to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Speaking about security issues, where New Zealand is an important partner for the EU, President Tusk welcomed the country's participation in Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, and briefed Prime Minister English on the European Council's December decisions in this field.

Echoing President Tusk, President Juncker in his meeting with the Prime Minister, highlighted the strong ties that bind the EU and New Zealand and expressed optimism that a free trade agreement could be concluded relatively quickly.

Whislt in Brussels, Prime Minister English will also meet with European Parliament President Martin Schulz and Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel.

President Tusk’s remarks after the meeting can be found here.

EU leaders in Valletta for launch of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the EU

On 11 January, leaders of the European Union joined members of the Maltese Government and Members of Parliament at the official opening ceremony of the Maltese presidency of the Council of the EU.

Malta has already outlined a number of priorities for its Presidency, including tackling the migration crisis, concluding key legislation in relation to the Single Market, and working with the EEAS under the umbrella of the Global Strategy to improve security situation, both at home and abroad.

In his speech at the ceremony, President Tusk emphasized that the Maltese Presidency came at an extraordinary time, full of new challenges and dramatic upheavals. Noting the ongoing challenges faced by the EU, including the migration crisis, President Tusk welcomed the competent, experienced and sensitive leadership Malta would bring to the Presidency.

President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, struck a similar note, articulating that he had full confidence in Malta to deliver at a time when the EU needs to show unity and a sense of purpose. He also indicated that the Commission would assist Malta in any way possible over the coming months.

The provisional schedule of the Maltese Presidency can be found here.

HR/VP Mogherini pushes ahead with regional initiative on Syria

This week, beginning on 10 January, sees the start of a second round of talks in the framework of the European Union's Regional Initiative on the future of Syria, HR/VP Federica Mogherini’s initiative to identify post-conflict arrangements for the country.

A series of bilateral meetings will take place between senior EU officials and representatives of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, and late of Turkey and Qatar.

Besides identifying common ground on post-conflict arrangements, the initiative is examining the scope for reconciliation and reconstruction once a credible political transition is firmly under way. It is being conducted in full coordination and support of the talks that will be held by the UN Special Envoy de Mistura in Geneva in February, and in view of the Brussels Conference on Syria which will be hosted by the EU later in the spring.

The EU is strongly committed to contributing towards a political transition in Syria as agreed in the UN Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2118.

Launch of Alliance Française French Film Festival

The 2017 Alliance Française French Film Festival will take place across cities in New Zealand from the beginning of March to mid-April. The festival has firmly established itself as the largest French cultural event on New Zealand’s national cultural calendar. Following more than a seven-fold increase in attendance figures since 2012, the festival is one of the largest and fastest growing French film festivals outside France.

Although a number of film screenings have been announced, the full schedule will not be revealed until February 2.

Dates and venues can be found here.

More information on the festival will become available on 2 February.

Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2016-2017

Horizon 2020 is the largest multinational programme dedicated to research and innovation. It provides opportunities for collaboration for researchers from across the globe.

The new Work Programme 2016-17 offers funding opportunities through a range of calls for proposals and public procurement, covering nearly 600 topics. Read more about it here.

More information on how to apply is available in the online manual.

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Contract & Tenders

Find out about EU contracts and tenders available in the region here.

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