Media Release
20 June, 2009
Visit to Europe to Strengthen Ties with the EU and Advance the Doha Round
The Minister for Trade Simon Crean will today depart for Brussels to host the first ministerial level dialogue between Australia and the European Commission on trade policy.
Later, Mr Crean will travel to Paris to attend the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and will host an informal meeting of trade ministers to discuss advancing the Doha Round.
The aim of the trip is to strengthen links between Australia and the European Union and to build on momentum from the Cairns Group meeting earlier this month to conclude the Doha Round.
There will also be a focus on sending strong signals to all governments to resist protectionist pressures.
In Brussels, Mr Crean will hold talks with the European Commission’s Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton, on bilateral trade issues and the WTO Doha Round.
“I believe Australia and the EU have an important role in showing leadership with other key WTO Members to conclude the Round and I will be discussing with Commissioner Ashton how we can intensify our engagement,” Mr Crean said.
Together with Commissioner Ashton, Mr Crean will also open the fifth Australia – EC Trade Policy Dialogue on 23 June. This is the first time a Ministerial-level segment has been included.
While in Belgium, Mr Crean will deliver an address at the influential think-tank, the European Policy Centre, on the strengthening relationship between Australia and the EU and hold talks with Belgium’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Mr Karel De Gucht.
Mr Crean will also visit the Ghent Bio-Energy Valley in Belgium to meet business representatives, gain insights into the European experience in collaborative development of new technology and promote the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Initiative.
Mr Crean will be in Paris on 24-25 June to attend the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
“Ministers will discuss strategies for combating the global financial crisis and minimising the impact on their communities as well as how the OECD can help implement the decisions taken by G20 Leaders at their summit in London on 2 April,” Mr Crean said.
“The OECD meeting will also provide an important opportunity to send a strong message on the need for governments to resist protectionism and address other long-term challenges such as climate change,” the minister said.
Mr Crean will host an informal gathering of trade ministers in the margins of the OECD ministerial meeting. The informal gathering will provide an important and timely opportunity to build on political momentum generated at the recent Cairns Group meeting in Bali to move the Doha Round forward.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma, Brazil’s External Affairs Minister Celso Amorim, EC Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton, Japan’s Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai and South Africa’s Trade Minister Rob Davies will attend the informal gathering. World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy will also attend the meeting.
Media Inquiries: Mr Crean's office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555 - Austrade 0425 354 972