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News - April 2008
► Australia and the European Union: A new climate
The Australian Prime Minister, The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, concluded this Wednesday 2 April a visit to Brussels.
During the joint media conference Prime Minister Rudd held with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, the Prime Minister stressed the following points:
• The Doha Round: Australia's view, shared by President Barroso, is that the Round is do-able this year. There is an urgent need to conclude it as a shot in the arm for the global economy that is going through a very difficult time considering the unfolding crisis in global financial markets.
• Climate change: Australia-EU cooperation on climate change has been enhanced since the Australian Government’s decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
• Security isssues: Australia and the EU face common challenges, including in Afghanistan. This was also raised in the discussion Prime Minister Rudd held with Javier Solana, as Australia has 1,000 troops on the ground in Southern Afghanistan.
• Development assistance cooperation: Prime Minister Rudd and President Barroso spoke at length about the need to work more closely together in the South Pacific. The European Union is a significant supporter of development assistance programs in the South Pacific.
• A broad based relationship: Australia and the EU intend to prosecute a broad based relationship through a new key partnership framework which both parties will negotiate, hopefull by mid year.
Later on the day, the Australian Prime Minister gave a speech at the European Policy Centre, 'A Change of Climate - A New Approach to Australia-Europe'. Prime Minister Rudd stressed the historical, economical and cultural links between Europe and Australia. He called for an even stronger scientific cooperation, for Europe and Australia to work together on international development to reach the millenium development goals and to improve global security through fighting terrorism and druglords in Afghanistan. Mr Rudd also raised the matter of the WTO Doha Round negotiations that must succeed in order to ensure that sustainable economic growth continues. Finally on climate change, the Prime Minister stressed that both Australia and Europe have to support large-scale cooperative efforts to develop new low-emission technologies and to reduce deforestation.