The policy of the EU is completely in tune with the policy of New Zealand and vice versa, Foreign Minister and the current chair of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, Dimitrij Rupel, said in Brdo pri Kranju on Wednesday after a meeting between the EU troika and New Zealand.
Rupel said after the meeting, which also featured representatives of the European Commission and the EU Council, that the relations between the EU and New Zealand were very good, especially after last year's signing of a joint statement on relations and cooperation.
His New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters said that the EU and New Zealand shared positions regarding climate change, human rights, reform of the UN, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. He pointed to good cooperation in peacekeeping operations, while Rupel added that cooperation in Afghanistan would be further enhanced.
The foreign minister emphasised the importance of such meetings, which represent a "very welcome way to coordinate our policies". Peters agreed with Rupel and added that Wellington highly appreciated meetings with the EU, which take place every six months.
Regarding bilateral relations, Rupel emphasised the success in trade and economic ties and the expanding cooperation in education, research, science and technology, adding that the EU had found out today that "the list of our agreements should be supplemented".
He pointed to the signing of agreements on cooperation in science and technology, air transport and wine trade. Peters added that if New Zealand was an EU member, it would possibly be a "leading force in the fight against protectionism and in the promotion of free trade".
The second part of the talks was dedicated to a wide spectrum of international issues, ranging from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East, through energy security and climate change to Asia-Pacific related issues.
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