Enhancing New Zealand's bilateral and parliamentary relationship with Germany

A parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter, has been enhancing the bilateral and parliamentary relationship with Germany this past week.

In Berlin, the delegation met with the Speaker of the German Bundestag, President Norbert Lammert, and the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Christian Schmidt.

The delegation met with the Chairpersons and members of the Economic Affairs and Energy, and Food and Agriculture Committees, as well as with members of the German-Australia-New Zealand Parliamentary Group. Finally, the delegation held talks with the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, and with the Speaker of the Berlin Regional Parliament.

Discussions with President Lammert and others centred on the shared MMP electoral system, regional security issues, agricultural and scientific cooperation, and our ambitions for a high-quality and comprehensive free trade agreement between New Zealand and the European Union (EU).

Earlier in the week in Munich, the delegation met with Speaker of the Bavarian State Parliament and Bavarian Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forestry, as well as with global German cooperative, BayWa, and the leaders of scientific research institute, the Fraunhofer Society.

"Our delegation's visit has highlighted that Germany and New Zealand are like family. Not only do we have many shared values, including a strong commitment to democracy, the rule of law and freedom, but we also take a like-minded policy approach to many of the issues and challenges facing the world today," the Speaker said.

The Speaker added, "Visiting Germany was a critical part of this delegation's programme. Not only is Germany an economic powerhouse in Europe, but it also plays an increasingly important political leadership role, including in relation to the crisis in East Ukraine."

"It is therefore increasingly important, as President Lammert himself said, that we continue to engage in areas of shared interests, and that we maintain the closest possible contacts between our two freely elected parliaments," the Speaker concluded.

ENDS

© Scoop Media