Abstract
Australia has historically been perceived as a state of limited direct relevance to European Union (EU) interests. This perception was influenced to a significant extent by disagreement over the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the obvious geographical distance that exists between the EU and Australia. Beginning with the 1990s, this article will argue, however, that the EU’s decision to make a conscious effort to increase engagement with the Asia-Pacific region during this period has seen Australia become an international partner of increased relevance. During the 1990s, the EU slowly became more cognisant of the extent to which it had a commonality of values and interests with Australia in the Asia-Pacific region. This recognition facilitated increased cooperation on regional issues over subsequent decades on issues such as trade, security, development assistance and the promotion of regional integration. This article draws on interviews with EU and Australian officials to demonstrate the extent to which close cooperation on Asia-Pacific issues is taking place. Moreover, it will also argue that the extent of shared interests and cooperation with respect to the Asia-Pacific region has been reflected in the signing of a Partnership Framework agreement in 2008 and the current negotiations for a Framework Agreement. These agreements indicate how a shared recognition of norms and values in the Asia-Pacific region has resulted in Australia becoming an increasingly important partner of the EU.
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Notes
Twenty-six EU officials and sixteen Australian officials have been interviewed as part of an on-going PhD research project investigating EU-Australian relations. Interviews were conducted over the period of November 2012–September 2013. All references and quotes from these interviews are listed only with the month and year from which they were conducted, owing to the need for anonymity. EEAS official 1 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
EEAS official 2 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
European Commission official 1 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) official 1 interviewed by the author August, 2013.
Council official 1 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
The 2003 ‘Communication from the Commission—Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships’ was the first EU strategy paper to mention Australia as being part of the Asia-Pacific region.
MEP 1 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
The EU Troika refers, prior to the ratification of the Lisbon treaty, to the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, who also held the post of High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and the European Commissioner for External Relations.
EEAS official 2 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) official 1 interviewed by the author August, 2013.
EEAS official 1.
EEAS official 3 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
The EU has been excluded primarily due to ASEAN perceptions that the EU joining the summit would dilute its role within the EAS and make the summit excessively ‘interregional’ or too large in nature (Jetschke and Portela 2013).
EEAS official 1.
EEAS official 4 interviewed by the author November, 2012.
Council official interviewed by the author November, 2012.
European Commission official 1.
DFAT official 2 interviewed by the author August, 2013.
Council official 1.
DFAT official 1.
EEAS official 2.
DFAT official 3 interviewed by the author November, 2013.
DAFF official 2 interviewed by the author November, 2013.
DAFF official 1.
EEAS official 2.
DFAT official 4 interviewed by the author November, 2013.
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Yencken, E. Like-minded partners in the Asia-Pacific region? The EU’s expanding relationship with Australia. Asia Eur J 13, 425–441 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-015-0414-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-015-0414-1