Brussels, 19/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Points on the agenda of the meeting on the sidelines of the General Affairs/External Relations Council on Monday 18 May in Brussels, between the EU troika headed by External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, included global challenges such as addressing the economic and financial crisis, climate and counter-terrorism, as well as regional security issues of joint interest mainly concerning the situation in Afghanistan, North Korea and Fiji. Ministerial consultation was above all dedicated to reviewing solutions for improving bilateral economic and political relations via a new, more comprehensive agreement. At this stage, bilateral relations are governed by the 2007 joint declaration on relations and cooperation between the EU27 and New Zealand. The European Commission takes the view that implementation of the declaration adopted in September 2007 in Lisbon is making satisfactory headway as a cooperation agreement in the field of science and technology was signed in July 2008 and as negotiations for a complete agreement on air services were officially launched at the end of November 2008. Europeans and New Zealanders have since expressed their interest in developing customs and regulatory cooperation. Finally, the EU, New Zealand and Australia held a meeting on the Pacific in 2008. Nonetheless, the growing number of specific initiatives call for reflection on how to develop more structured bilateral relations. Exploratory discussions between Europe and New Zealand will continue in coming months before further ministerial consultation in December, in Stockholm. (E.H./transl.jl)