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Australia's relations with the European Union
Australia’s bilateral ties with the European Union (EU) cover a diverse range of common economic, foreign and security interests and are underpinned by strong people-to-people links. The increasing breadth of our bilateral engagement has reflected the EU’s continuing integration and its enhanced role in economic areas, foreign and security policy and on justice and home affairs issues. Considered as a single entity, the EU is Australia’s largest trading partner and our major source of foreign investment.
The expansion and deepening of the EU have had a significant impact on the international system. The EU's enlargement to 27 members has boosted its weight as an international actor. Its economy is already comparable in size to that of the United States and its strategic weight is likely to increase steadily. The inclusion of many former communist countries of Central Europe binds them to EU norms of democracy, the rule of law and a market economy. Combined with NATO expansion, this offers Europe the prospect of unprecedented stability and prosperity.
Against this background, Australian Ministers and European Commissioners agreed to undertake a review of progress under the 1997 Australia-EU Joint Declaration with a view to identifying priorities for future cooperation. The review outcomes were adopted at the Ministerial Consultations held in Melbourne on 16 April 2003. The priorities for future cooperation are detailed in Australia and the European Union: An agenda for cooperation.
The EU and Australia hold annual ministerial and senior officials' level meetings to strengthen and progress bilateral cooperation on a range of issues. Regular consultations are held as follows:
- Australia-European Commission ministerial consultations
- Ministerial consultations with the presidency of the Council of the European Union - Australia-EU troika talks on Asia
- Security
- Immigration and asylum issues
- Environment
- Development cooperation
To find out more about Australia-EU relations, click here.