News 2008
01.12.08 EU Provides New Funds for Academic Cooperation with North America & Asia-Pacific Countries
The European Union will invest a further 9.2 million euros for academic cooperation with industrialized countries in North America and the Asia-Pacific Region. The European Commission and the US Department of Education jointly launched 16 new cooperation projects involving 73 universities and training institutions from the EU and the United States. Each side will contribute 4.5 million euros - an increase of 18 percent compared with 2007 - to support 700 students in two-way transatlantic exchanges.
"The longstanding cooperation we have created with the EU-US Atlantis program, the EU-Canada program, and the more recent projects with Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand sends a positive signal from the European side about the readiness for qualitative and quantitive improvements that can be achieved by teaming up with our higher education partners in North America and Asia Pacific," said European Education Commissioner Ján Figel'. "This is an invitation for university professors and especially for students from our partner countries to come to Europe and work together on joint study programs and joint- and double- degrees."
All projects are jointly funded and supervised by the European Commission and the governments in the partner countries.
Further information
07.11.08 NCRE Farewells Ambassador Julien
On Wednesday 6th of November the National Centre for Research on Europe hosted the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand, Mr Bruno Julien. The Ambassador is based in Canberra and was on a farewell visit to New Zealand as his posting comes to an end in November 2008. Mr Julien’s 3-year term has been an important one for EU-NZ relations and he has overseen significant achievements such as the signing of the 2007 Joint Declaration between the EU and NZ, a new Science and Technology Agreement, the opening of an EU Commission office in Wellington and the visits of two EU Commissioners. Professor Holland, who chaired the session, commented that these developments have meant that “EU-New Zealand relations have been taken to new levels.” The Ambassador has been a keen supporter of the European Union Centres Network and congratulated the Network on their accomplishments in increasing the visibility of the European Union within academia and the wider public in New Zealand. Mr Julien stated that the networking achieved by the EUCN both with the EU and with other countries in the Asia Pacific region was a “great example of the cooperation that helps strengthen these relationships”. The Ambassador helped to inaugurate the new Lifesize videolink online system at the new NCRE offices, with interested academics and students from Auckland and Victoria Universities listening and participating via video conference. In 2009, it is hoped to utilise this technology to host many more national round table sessions. In his presentation the Ambassador discussed the importance for a strong relationship between New Zealand and the European Union, based on shared values and democratic principles, and the value of multilateral approaches to such issues as the financial crisis and climate change. He also highlighted the significance of strong ties between New Zealand and European universities in promoting a stronger relationship between New Zealand and the EU. Following his presentation the Ambassador took questions from academics and students at all three universities, covering a range of topics, from aid to the Pacific to the governance crisis in Fiji, the global financial crisis and EU relations with the new US presidency. Students and staff at the NCRE then had the opportunity to meet and discuss their research with the Ambassador over lunch before he flew back to Australia in the afternoon.
28.10.08 New Article Published in Shift Magazine
08.10.08 Keynote Speech Given by New Zealand's Speaker of the H
ouse
The NCRE were honoured to have the New Zealand Speaker of the House, Hon Margaret Wilson as keynote speaker for the EUCN Conference: Europe in the Changing World. Ms Wilson focused on New Zealands relationship with Europe, in particular on the strong relationship between the European and New Zealand Parliaments. Ms Wilson also acknowledged the shared visions of Europe and New Zealand, characterised by the conclusion last September of the Joint Declaration on relations and cooperation. Full text of speech
01.10.08 NCRE Summer Programme Enrolments open this week
The NCRE is pleased to announce the return of the Centr
10.09.08 Applications open for EUCN MEP Internships
The EUCN is pleased to annouce that in conjunction with New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the European Parliament's Delegation responsible for relations with Australia and New Zealand, one internship position with a Member of the European Parliament will be offered to a postraduate student at a New Zealand university. This internship will be for the period of up to three months from September 2009. Applications close at 5pm on the 1st of October 2008. Further Information.
04.09.08 Applications now open for EUCN Scholarships and Research Awards
Applications are now open for EUCN Scholarships and Research Awards for Postgraduate Students studying the European Union. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 17th of October. Further Information
20.08.08 Hon. Jim Anderton opens NCRE's Political Seminar Series
The Minister for Agriculture, Jim Anderton, was the first speaker in the National Centre for Research on Europe’s election year seminar series. The series, titled “ The Future of EU-NZ Relations” allows representatives of the major political parties to share their parties views on the NZ-EU relationship and how they see the agenda developing after the election later this year.Mr Anderton spoke on economics and trade relations, in particular looking at how New Zealand’s models of de-subsidation had, in the long term, proven an economic advantage and how NZ was trying to convince Europe to follow. Full text copy of the speech. Audio file of speech. Flyer for Political Seminar Series.
02.08.08 Post 2012 Burden Sharing Symposium
A very successful symposium was held on the 29th July in Wellington entitled Post 2012-Burden Sharing Symposium. This event was coordinated by the EUCN in conjunction with the Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. Further information including powerpoints and videos of keynote addresses.
04.07.08 International Conference
The
National Centre for Research on Europe, in association with the
European Union Centres Network and the EU Studies
Association Asia-Pacific invite papers for the global conference “Europe in the Changing World: challenges, priorities
and research
collaboration", to be held in Christchurch, New
Zealand, from 25-27th September 2008. The conference
aims to promote the collaboration of
academics and scholars within a framework of three themes:
EU Through the Eyes of the World;
Teaching Europe Outside Europe; and
Ideas for Research Collaboration: State of Play and Future Directions. Further information
27.06.08 Trade Minister talks on New Zealand - Europe Trade
Relations
New Zealand's Minister of Trade, the Hon. Phil Goff, spoke at
a luncheon hosted by the NZ - Europe Business Council on the 20th
June at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland. The
Minister spoke on New Zealand and Europe: Past and Future
Relations and Opportunities. Copy of the Full
Speech.
17.06.08 Irish Referendum and the Lisbon Treaty
With Ireland having voted 'No' to ratifiying the EU's Lisbon
Treaty this week, commentators are discussing what this now means
for European Integration and the European Union.
"NZ
to Ireland: Let us take your place" Nevil Gibson - National
Business Review
"Irish No raises
questions over EU commission size" - EU Observer
"Dublin sees 'no
obvious solution' to EU treaty rejection" - EU Observer
"
'No quick fix' to Irish No Vote" - BBC
29.05.08 Europa Lecture 2008
The Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, presented the 2008 Europa
Lecture on the 12th of June at the Univeristy of Auckland.
The event was hosted by the EUCN and the NZ-Europe Business Council.Mr
Peters spoke on "New Zealand and Europe: A Partnership
for the 21st Century". He described the relationship
between New Zealand and Europe as one that is now a more "mature,
balanced, and mtually beneficial relationship than at any time
in our history" . He also encouraged New Zealanders to develop
more up-to -date understandings of the vitality of Europe and
of its value to New Zealand as an economic superpower and a region
that "exemplifies many of our own aspirations".
23.05.08 Seminar: Introducation to European Research Fellowships:
Marie Curie Actions and FP7
This session will introduce you to the European Commision's Marie
Curie Incoming and Outgoing Fellowship Schemes. These fellowships
allow for the movement of experienced New Zealand researchers
to European and European researchers to New Zealand to carrry
out a specific research project designed by the individual researcher.
This seminar will be held on Friday 30th May 1.30-3.00pm in Room 251 of the Psychology Building.
13.05.08 New Edition of Asia-Pacific Journal of EU Studies
The latest edition of the Asia-Pacific Journal of EU Studies has just been released. This is a special conference issue entitled
"Regional Integration in Europe and Asia and Regional Blocs:
Legal, economic, and polical perspectives". If you would like
to purchase a copy please contact the NCRE.
10.03.08 NCRE Seminar
This weeks NCRE seminar is featuring MA Student Brittany Chellew.
Brittany will be speaking on: “NZ Trade with the European Union:
Looking at Wine", 2.10pm Friday 14th March in the Coppertop
(Level 2, Commerce).
26.02.08 EUCN Graduate Weekend School
Registrations are now open for the EUCN's second Graduate Weekend
School. This is opportunity for graduate students studying EU
related topics to get together in a retreat setting to present
and discuss their work and also participate in skills based workshops.
26.02.08 EU Studies Fair
The
NCRE recently participated in the EU Studies Fair held in Brussels,
which attracts 70 universities offering EU related programmes.
Over 700 students from around Europe attended the fair and the
NCRE booth proved very successful, with staff chatting to over
100 prospective students. It is hoped that a number of European
students will enrol with the NCRE for their PhD studies as a result
of this fair.