Brussels, 03/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Negotiations between the EU and Australia on a framework agreement opened on Monday 31 October. “The agreement will give political expression to our commitment to build a stronger, forward-looking partnership”, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton. The negotiations open “a new phase of closer cooperation between Australia and the EU that better accommodates our broad interests and priorities”, added Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.
Ashton said that this agreement not only makes clear the value placed by the EU on relations with Australia, it also provides a firm basis for expanding practical collaboration in foreign affairs, security, development aid, climate change, research, science and education.
Ashton and Rudd also agreed to open negotiations on a separate crisis management agreement. They agreed on the first two EU-Australia delegated aid projects: in South Sudan, where the EU will deliver food-security assistance on Australia's behalf, and Fiji, where Australia will deliver a component of the EU's assistance. Australia is the first non-European donor with which the EU has established delegated aid cooperation arrangements. (CG/transl.rt)