Finny introductory comments to the Europe series

Introductory Remarks

Charles Finny

The Europe Series

New Governance, New Opportunities, New Partnerships

European Union Commemoration of the

Signing of the Treaty of Rome

Wellington

Wednesday 21 March, 1.30 pm

Ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union and Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Consular and Trade Representatives, Members of Parliament, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to this important seminar.

Can I begin by congratulating the German Presidency of the European Union, the Delegation of the European Commission to New Zealand, the New Zealand-Europe Business Council, the NZ Institute of International Affairs and the European Union Centres Network for arranging this seminar; and also to thank you for inviting me to chair this celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be associated with this event.

That Treaty, of course, established the European Economic Community, and was an important step in the development of today’s European Union.

I wonder whether those dark suited gentlemen seated at that table in Rome on 25 March 1957 had any inkling about the impact and success that the Treaty they were signing was to have over the next 50 years. Success that can be measured both in terms of peace and stability in Europe, and a ground breaking model of political and economic integration.

Today some of our speakers will rightly be commenting on the achievements of the last 50 years. But I hope that the focus will not be solely on the past, but on what the achievements of the past 50 years will mean for the future, in particular for the future of New Zealand relations with Europe.

As someone who has been very close to the formulation of New Zealand political and economic policy over a bit more than the second half of the period since the Treaty of Rome was signed, and who was an interested observer of our relationship with Europe for quite a few years prior to moving into the workforce, I have been concerned that we have been too driven by defensive impulses, and that we haven’t appreciated enough the opportunities being created for us by the EU. Likewise I have been concerned that differences in approach to a very few areas of agricultural trade have perhaps clouded attitudes on both sides to the potential new means by which the relationship can be broadened and deepened. Of course, as often happens the private sector has done much to lead Governments and there are opportunities being exploited everyday by some of the traders whose representatives will be speaking in a few minutes.

And while Britain’s entry into the EEC was seen as a very negative thing by many New Zealanders at the time, my conclusion is the same as that of Jim McLay, who chaired the Auckland seminar in this series. It forced essential structural change in the New Zealand economy and a healthy diversification of both our markets and product mix. It was a development that, in hindsight, has to be seen as hugely positive for New Zealand.

It is important that we do not overlook Europe’s continuing importance to us as a trading partner, particularly as a high value market. Even some of our commodities enjoy significantly better returns in Europe than elsewhere. In the year ended December 2006 the EU was New Zealand’s second largest goods market with NZ exports worth a little over $5 billion. This is well behind Australia, but well ahead of the United States at $4.4 billion, Japan at $3.5 billion and China at $1.8 billion.

And in the services arena the EU also stands out. We often overlook the fact that tourism is New Zealand’s largest export industry, larger even than dairy. The EU is also New Zealand’s second largest tourist market – after Australia. Indeed, while today’s newspapers are trumpeting the fact that China has just overtaken Korea to become New Zealand’s fifth largest tourist market, it is interesting to note that Europe is still a larger tourist market than all of Asia combined. And the UK alone, is New Zealand’s second largest country market, with over 300,000 visitors coming to New Zealand in the 12 months ended February.

Likewise we should not overlook Europe’s continuing importance as a source of investment, its importance as a collaborator in science and technology, and its importance and potential in the field of education exchange.

I see a bright future for the relationship, both in terms of expanded trade and investment, science, technology and education collaboration and political cooperation. And I hope that Governments on all sides share a determination to take the relationship forward and a willingness to think creatively about means by which the relationship between New Zealand and Europe can be developed to their full potential.

We have, this afternoon, an impressive line up of speakers to discuss the significance of the European Union and the implications of its likely future development for New Zealand.

We will begin with a focus on the trade and economic relationship. In the second half we will inject more of a political flavour.

I am sure we will all find these proceedings to be enlightening and informative and look forward to sharing this occasion with everyone present.

ENDS

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