On a visit to Brussels on Friday 25 January, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced their intention to conclude their talks this year with a view to seal a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
"I would like to conclude this deal before the end of the mandate of my Commission," Mr Juncker told a joint press briefing. "There is nothing between the EU and New Zealand which could pose problems" to these ambitions, he added, stressing, inter alia, the convergence of views between the two entities on multilateral issues such as the reform of the World Trade Organisation or the issue of climate change.
Comments confirmed by Ms Ardern: "The pace at which the EU FTA negotiations with New Zealand are moving is, in itself, unusual [...] we share the ambition that has been expressed by the EU [...] and welcome it".
Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, also present at the press conference, confirmed that three full rounds of negotiations are planned up to July. He announced his intention to visit the Oceania country next month, mainly to discuss European sensitivities which focus mostly on agricultural products - sheepmeat and beef and dairy products - of which New Zealand is a very competitive exporter. Mr Hogan added that the European market access offers will be published in February.
In addition to strengthening the trade relationship, an FTA with Wellington would strengthen European access to the Asia-Pacific region, giving it new access to its growing markets and value chains.
But EU-New Zealand relations go beyond trade, Ardern said, as did Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk. “Beyond trade, we agreed to work even more closely together in many areas, from peace and security to connectivity, energy and climate change”, Tusk said at a press briefing with Ardern.
New Zealand and Europeans particularly highlighted cooperation in the fight against climate change. Ms Ardern hoped that the EU and her country would continue to work together “on the implementation of ambitious domestic programmes on climate change and to push [their] partners to raise their ambitions on reducing carbon emissions”.
Both sides also underlined their common values regarding democracy, human rights, the rule of law and an open, inclusive and rule-based international order. According to Ms Ardern, the EU and Wellington share the same values regarding the reform of multilateral institutions. She added that she had discussed international political issues with Mr. Tusk, such as Ukraine or the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel and Camille-Cerise Gessant)