Brussels, 25/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The President of the Council of the EU, Jean Asselborn, held an exchange with New Zealand's foreign minister Phil Goff in Luxembourg on 24 February, as part of the ministerial troika. They discussed relations between the European Union and New Zealand and a range of international issues. In Brussels on Friday, Phil Goff met Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the EU and Representative for CFSP, and the Commissioners for External Relations, Enlargement and Communication, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Olli Rehn and Margot Wallström respectively, and visited NATO.
The EU troika and Mr Goff discussed ways of boosting EU/New Zealand cooperation on the basis of an action plan on education, research, science, technology and development aid. This will be done via the active implementation of the joint agenda “Priorities for Future Cooperation”, which was adopted in 2004, and which was at the heart of Friday's meeting in Brussels between Phil Goff and Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
In a press release, Jean Asselborn declared that the EU and New Zealand share the same views on subjects such as the “peace process in the Middle East, Afghanistan, the Korean peninsula, the Pacific region and the fight against terrorism”. The Luxembourg minister for foreign affairs commented on both partners' “strong commitment” for “effective multilateralism and a reinforcement of multilateral organisations and instruments”, and recognised New Zealand's crucial role in the security and stability of South East Asia. He referred to the assistance New Zealand had afforded in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami of 26 December and its involvement in the reconstruction phase, as well as its efforts to put in place solid institutions in the Solomon isles.
From the New Zealand point of view, Phil Goff's visit was an “excellent opportunity to become aware of the positive discussions with the EU during President Bush's visit”. The same source pointed out that New Zealand is a “major trade and political partner of the EU” and that it was committed to the Middle East peace process. Since October 2004, the New Zealand general Clive Lilley has been heading up the United Nations body in charge of monitoring the truce in Palestine (UNTSO).