Australia–European Union relations

Relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the European Union (EU) are founded on a Partnership Framework, first agreed in 2008. It covers not just economic relations, but broader political issues and cooperation.[1]

Australia–European Union relations

EU
Australia

The Australian Government maintains a delegation to the EU at its embassy in Brussels. A Delegation of the European Union is located in Canberra.[2]

History

Australia's relationship with Europe is a consequence of the historical connections generated by colonialism and mass European immigration to Australia. There has been speculation about possible first sightings of Australia by Portugal and Spain. However, the first documented European sightings and landings occurred since March 1606 by Holland. Likewise, it would later be explored and conquered between the 18th and 19th centuries by the British Empire.

The United Kingdom has extremely close relations with Australia, due to its British colonial past, and both being realms of the Commonwealth.

Trade
Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to the European Union (A$ millions) since 1988
Monthly value of EU merchandise exports to Australia (A$ millions) since 1988

The EU is Australia's second largest trading partner, after China, and Australia is the EU's 18th. Australia's exports are dominated by mineral and agricultural goods, while 37% of trade is in commercial services, especially transportation and travel. EU corporations have a strong presence in Australia (approximately 2360) with an estimated turnover of €200 bn (just over 14% of total sales in Australia). These companies directly created 500,000 jobs in Australia. The EU is Australia's second largest destination of overseas investment and the EU is by far Australia's largest source of foreign investment €2.8 billion in 2009 (€11.6 billion in 2008). Trade was growing but ebbed in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.[3] In August 2019, Australian Senator Simon Birmingham, released a list of names that the EU wants to protect as a part of its new trade deal. The list of proposed names included beers, spirits and cheese and meats, which as per EU is aimed at protecting the identity of European products from non-European products. This concept of segregation is known as “geographical indications” or Gis, which will change the name of commodity in regards to the country of its origin.[4]

EU – Australia trade in 2009[3]
Direction of trade Goods Services
EU to Australia €26.7 billion €11.8 billion
Australia to EU €9.8 billion €6.2 billion

Possible EU membership

Although Oceania and Europe are antipodes, being also separated by different hemispheres, after the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, it was proposed that Australia could join the European Union. Proponents argue that the cultural and political values of Australians and Europeans have much in common unlike the rest of the Oceanian countries, even more than New Zealand, and that Australian membership would serve as a bridge between Antarctica and Asia for the EU. Furthermore, EU membership would avoid influences from Asian countries in Australia, especially China.[5]

See also

References
  1. Australia, European External Action Service
  2. "Delegation of the EU". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. "Australia - Trade". European Commission. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  4. "Feta Cheese Could Soon Be Banned From Australia!". KIIS. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  5. Luke Slattery (2016-06-27). "Australia has a strong case for joining the EU". The Sydney Morning Herald.
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