The European Parliament adopted by 473 votes to 57 with 79 abstentions, a non legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the Union of the Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and New Zealand, of the other part.
Members stressed that New Zealand enjoys a close and historic partnership with the EU. The EU remains New Zealand’s third largest trading partner and both sides share respect for democratic principles as well as a wide range of economic and commercial interests.
Parliament welcomed the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation (PARC), which will provide a forward-looking political framework for EU-New Zealand relations. It underlined the cooperation on peace, security, regional stability in the Asia-Pacific region, agriculture, sustainable development, fisheries and maritime affairs, transport, humanitarian aid, sanitary measures, energy, the environment and climate change.
Members supported the launch of the EU-New Zealand free trade agreement negotiations, which must be conducted in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit, taking into account the sensitivity of certain agricultural and other products. The resolution stressed, however, that it is important to strengthen:
- political dialogue and cooperation on economic growth, job creation, trade and investment;
- environmental and ocean governance, which is necessary to achieve the conservation and sustainable use of resources;
- further investment in the areas of research and innovation and new opportunities in scientific, academic and technology cooperation;
- cooperation on sustainable energy in line with the UN initiative ‘Sustainable Energy for All’.
Parliament commended New Zealand’s long-standing commitment in the international coalition against terrorism and welcomed the he PARC agreement’s articles on counterterrorism cooperation.
Lastly, Members highlighted New Zealand’s participation in EU crisis management operations to promote international peace and security, as well as New Zealand’s long-standing commitment to the International Criminal Court (ICC), its ratification of the COP21 climate agreement and its contribution to the protection, conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and to marine research.