NEW ZEALAND AND EUROPE

Europe is a significant global power with influence in many areas of interest to New Zealand

• Europe, expanded, has a combined economic and diplomatic weight comparable to that of the United States. It is a major player in world affairs in many areas that are of direct interest to New Zealand. We will need to respond to initiatives from Europe in a wide range of areas including trade and economics, environment and human rights, disarmament and security. New Zealand shares many European traditions and has a strong interest in maintaining its political access in Europe

• New Zealand's interaction with Europe is shaped by cultural affinities and common values, including liberal traditions. But we have our own distinct world view and priorities, determined by our own circumstances. It will remain important for New Zealand to retain high levels of political access in Europe.

• Such political access is important first and foremost to support our trade access into Europe. We have successfully maintained a respectable level of access for our traditional agricultural trade, which has been bolstered by the outcomes of the Uruguay Round. Making our access secure, and building on this for improved outcomes from future multilateral trade rounds is a core focus of our effort in Europe.

• Europe is important to New Zealand in areas beyond trade. It is an important source of foreign direct investment and revenue from tourism. People-to-people links have always been very strong. There continue to be close educational and cultural links. In defence and foreign policy matters, New Zealand will have to deal with a single European entity.

• We need to think of European countries as a unit rather than a collection of individual countries. Europe is increasingly coordinating its foreign policy and diplomatic efforts. There are common European positions on a wide range of issues (though it remains important also to keep abreast of the positions of individual European nations). New Zealand interacts with the EU in many forums, including in consultations with the Presidency.

• On the defence and security front, there is also a growing European dimension. Post Kosovo, Bosnia and the Gulf, Europe is intent on developing a pan-European military capability, which might include out-of area capabilities.

NATO remains a significant actor in European defence

• NATO has changed since the end of the Cold War. It has expanded to include former foes and this has complicated its relationship with Russia. Despite the development of a European approach to defence, NATO remains of primary importance as the foundation for Europe's security. It has recently reinforced its active role in international affairs. NATO will continue to be a key component in the management of some international coalitions.

Russia

• While Russia no longer has superpower status, the extent to which it develops a viable basis for sustainable economic and political development will determine the sort of role that it is able to play in world affairs. Russia's role in the UN, its application to the WTO and its approach to disarmament are of direct interest to New Zealand.

New Zealand defence policy : the European dimension

New Zealand has been an active player in European security

• Historically, New Zealand has been deeply involved in European security, including large deployments to Europe in both world wars. This historic contribution has been an important factor in many of our modern European relationships.

• The presence of New Zealand troops in Bosnia and our contributions to international efforts to resolve the Balkan crisis have demonstrated our on-going acknowledgment of European security concerns, and our shared perception of the issues involved.

Our future focus will need to be shared interests in international security affairs

• We can expect to find common ground with European counterparts on a range of international security issues, particularly those involving multilateral responses under UN auspices. The affinity in our values and international outlook means that we shall often have a similar perspective.

• The European role in such scenarios is set to grow. European foreign policies are more closely coordinated these days, and there are moves under way to co-ordinate community security effort, with more of a focus on out-of-area roles.

• There is no immediate prospect of Europe rivalling the US in terms of global reach, but European resources, military capabilities and contribution to coalition management will become more important. On some issues Europe will be important for us as a balance to US views.

• At a practical level NATO standards will remain an important factor in interoperability in multilateral coalition operations. If we are to maintain an active and effective role for the NZDF in multilateral security operations there will be advantages in close links with European counterparts in the area of standards and doctrine.

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