Brussels, Belgium
5 October 2016
For Immediate Release

Joint press release on the occasion of the signature of the European Union-New Zealand Partnership Agreement

Today, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Hon Murray McCully, have signed the Partnership Agreement for Relations and Cooperation (PARC) between the European Union and New Zealand.

The High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "This ambitious agreement reflects the increasingly close friendship and cooperation that has developed between our European Union and New Zealand in recent years. In taking this important step today, we are showing not only the breadth and depth of our existing relationship, but demonstrating that we want to expand our partnership over the coming decades. It is a partnership that benefits our citizens first and foremost, and one that has real potential to grow even further in the future."

Foreign Minister McCully said: “New Zealand has longstanding cultural, political and economic ties to Europe, which underpin our modern relationship with the European Union. This Agreement reinforces our shared values, including respect for human rights and the rule of law, and continued cooperation in areas such as innovation, environmental and security issues. We look forward to implementing the Agreement and the subsequent strengthening of our engagement in the years to come.”

The PARC Agreement provides a comprehensive framework for more effective bilateral engagement between the European Union, its Member States and New Zealand. It will strengthen political dialogue and cooperation on economic and trade matters, as well as across a wide range of other areas, from science and innovation, education and culture, to migration, counter terrorism, the fight against organised crime and cybercrime, as well as judicial cooperation.

The PARC Agreement also reflects our cooperation in third countries and on global issues, including in the Pacific.

With the signature of the PARC Agreement now completed, the European Union and New Zealand will focus on the completion of the preparatory processes that should lead to the launching of negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

Through implementation of the PARC, New Zealand and the European Union will continue to look for further opportunities to work closely together to promote peace, stability and freedom around the globe.

ENDS.

Factsheet_European_Union__New_Zealand.pdf

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