Welcome from the Chair

Chaired by Ms Ulrike Müller and with Mr Axel Voss as Vice-Chair, an eight Member delegation, including European Parliament Vice-President Pedro Silva Pereira, travelled to Auckland and Wellington on 24-25 February to hold the 24th EU/New Zealand Inter-parliamentary Meeting and on 26-28 February in Canberra and Melbourne to hold the 41st EU-Australia Inter-parliamentary Meeting. This delegation has been the first EU official mission visiting Australia and New Zealand after the UK left the European Union. The mission took place in the aftermath of the devastating bush fires that ravaged Australia and at a crucial time of the current negotiations for a bilateral FTAs with both Australia and New Zealand. The MEPs also discussed with their counterparts - including the Speakers of both the Australian and New Zealand parliaments and several Ministers - issues such as climate change and the impact of the EU Green Deal on the EU external dimension, the Pacific dimension of global security and the cooperation on the digital space, including data protection and further scientific joint programmes. During the intensive five working days, the EP delegation fully implemented its role of parliamentary diplomacy in the two countries, also meeting innovative start-up, media, representatives of indigenous people, experts dealing with environmental and fire-prevention issues, and EU diplomats.

On 24-28 February the Delegation for the relations for Australia and New Zealand will pay a visit to both countries with whom the EU is currently negotiating key Free Trade Agreements. The visit has also a particular relevance being the very first EU delegation to Australia and New Zealand after the United Kingdom left the EU.

On 24/2, the 27th EU/New Zealand will take place in Auckland. Until 25/2 the delegation will have meetings also in Wellington with Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Economy, Climate Change, Pacific People, and will also pay visit to innovative NZ environmental projects and war memorial.

From 26 to 28/2, in both Canberra and Melbourne, the EP delegation will hold with the Australia counterpart the 41st EU/Australia inter-Parliamentary Meetings and will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Finance, and with several representatives of the business community. Meetings and visit will also be devoted to the areas affected by the recent devastating bush fires.

Delegation for Relations with Australia and New Zealand

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- The Chair -

On behalf of the European Parliament Delegation for the relations with Australia, I wish to express our sincere condolences to the victims of the Australian bushfires. We stand in full solidarity with the people and authorities of Australia at this extremely difficult time regarding the serious loss of life, damage to the economy and loss of wildlife and nature. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims and the injured.

Although geographically far away, as representatives of EU citizens, we offer moral support and heartfelt sympathy at this difficult moment and are ready to discuss any possible operational assistance that may help our Australian friends in coping with this terrible challenge, and those that still lie ahead.

Ulrike Müller