European Union Centres Network
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The European Union Centres Network (EUCN) was established in New Zealand in March 2006 through a grant from the European Commission for external relations (RELEX) for €600,000 over three and a half years.
The Network conducts research, teaching and outreach activities to facilitate understanding of the impact and role of the EU in New Zealand and the Pacific Region.
The Network is multidisciplinary, investigating the impact of the EU on the region in the broadest possible terms including: trade, economics, politics, security, science, technology and innovation, the environment, development, democratic values and peoples and cultures.
Seven New Zealand universities are included in the Network which is administered by the National Centre for Research on Europe
- University of Canterbury
- University of Auckland
- University of Waikato
- Massey University
- Victoria University of Wellington
- Lincoln University
- University of Otago
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[edit] EUCN Objectives
The European Union Centres Network is dedicated to the EU's interaction with our region in the widest terms - involving economics, politics, security, innovation, development democratic values and peoples and cultures.
The guiding objectives are:
- Build a network of academic excellence
- Develop European Studies curriculum throughout New Zealand
- Enhance awareness of EU policies as they affect the region
- Promote innovation and intensity in bilateral relations
- Enhance EU visibility by implementing national, focused, regular and high-level outreach activities
- Provide a national vehicle for promoting a better understanding of the EU
- Develop a national network of EU expertise that can be accessed by the media, government and the public
- Expand people-to-people links and exchanges for academics, students and practitioners
- Undertake research relevant to the priorities of EU-NZ bilateral relations.
[edit] Activities
The strategic vision of the NZ EU Centres Network combines the three elements of research, teaching and outreach and is focused on the impact, role and understanding of the EU within NZ and the Pacific region in general.
The key activities of the network for 2007-08 are:
- High level public Europa Lectures
- EU-NZ Gateway Seminar
- Visiting European-in-Residence practitioners programme
- Network graduate scholarships
- Network internship programme
- National and international conferences
- National weekend EU graduate school
- Visiting EU teaching fellowships
- FRENZ national contact point
- Pilot funding for EU research projects
- NZ-EU survey and media analysis
- Production and dissemination of publications and media liaison
[edit] EUCN Europa Lecture Series
The Europa Lecture Series is the European Union Centres Network's prestige public lecture series, usually presented annually by a high profile, leading New Zealand or European politician.
Seven lectures have been presented as part of the series since its inception at the National Centre for Research on Europe in 2001. All the lectures to this point have been delivered in either Christchurch or Wellington, however, as this activity has now forms part of the EUCN's annual activities, the lectures will be held in several different cities over the next three years.
- 2007
The European Union and New Zealand - New Perspectives
Benita Ferrero-Waldner Commissioner for External Relations
- 2006
European agricultural policy in a changing environment
Mariann Fischer Boel Member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development
- 2005
Turkey and the EU: Opportunities and Challenges for NZ
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Prime Minister of Turkey
- New Zealand and Europe, twelve months after enlargement
The Hon Phil Goff Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Pacific Island Affairs, New Zealand
- 2004
Annual Europa Lecture to the National Centre for Research on Europe
The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom
- 2003
EU-NZ Relations After Enlargement
Chris Patten EU Commissioner for External Relations
- 2002
New Zealand's Relationship with Europe
Rt Hon Helen Clark Prime Minister of New Zealand
- 2001
What's Europe Done for Us? Inaugural Europa Lecture
Terence Wynn Member of the European Parliament
A collection of lectures addressing the European Union's relationship with its global partners has been published to coincide with the union's 50th anniversary, the Europa Lectures 2001-2006, published by Canterbury University Press, is edited by Professor Martin Holland, Director of the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) at the University of Canterbury. It contains seven lectures delivered as part of the annual Europa Lecture hosted by NCRE from 2001 to 2006.
[edit] EUCN European-in-Residence Programme
The European in Residence Programme is aimed at improving the EUC Network's capacity to reach and involve target groups beyond academic circles. The initiative will see four EU practitioners hosted by EUCN Partner Universities from 2006-2009, with a view to developing EU-NZ relations through linking these practitioners with New Zealand policy-makers and the business community at a high level. The European in Residence would be expected to provide formal and informal policy recommendations to the New Zealand groups they engage.
The Programme is based on the experience gained from previous Europeans in Residence hosted at the National Centre for Research on Europe.
Previous Europeans-in-residence include:
- 2007
Mr Terry Wynn Former MEP 1989-2006
- 2006
Mr Graham Avery Former Director in the European Commission, Brussels
- 2004
Dr Martin Sajdik Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Austria
- 2003
Sir Brian Crowe Former British diplomat in the Council Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium
[edit] EU Gateway Seminar
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the European Union Centres Network, in conjunction with German Presidency of the European Union, the Delegation of the European Commission to New Zealand, the NZ-Europe Business Council, The National Centre for Research on Europe, The NZ Institute of International Affairs, and the Regional Chambers’ of Commerce hosted a series of one day conferences around the country. . Conferences were held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from the 19th to the 22nd of March. The theme of the conferences was 'New Governance, New Opportunities and New Partnerships' and consisted of two seminar sessions, one exploring the nature of trading relations with the European union and its member states, while the second focused on a diplomatic and political discussion of the 50th year anniversary and the future of Europe. All three events were very successful, attracting over 400 people across the events and providing much lively discussion and the opportunity for business professionals, academics and students to ask questions. Each seminar was concluded by a reception allowing speakers and guests to network and providing a fitting way to end each day of commemoration. In Auckland the seminar was held in the wonderful Fale Pasifika building at the University of Auckland and was followed by a reception hosted by the Mayor of Auckland. The National Library of New Zealand was the venue for the Wellington Seminar, with a reception hosted by the German Embassy. The Christchurch event was held in the historic Christchurch Club, concluding with a reception hosted by the Mayor of Christchurch.
Key speakers at the seminars included:
- Terry Wynn, former Chair of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee
- H.E. Mr Jörg Zimmerman, German Ambassador
- Maurice Maxwell, European Union Delegation
- Hon. Margaret Wilson, Speaker of the House
- Hon. Dr. Michael Cullen, Deputy Prime Minister
- Hon. Jim Anderton, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
- John Key, Leader of the Opposition
- Hon. Murray McCully, MP
- Tim Grosser , MP
- Dianne Yates, MP
- Richard Laverty, NZTE’s European Director
- Brendon O’Donovan, Westpac Bank’s Chief Economist
- Michael Barnett, Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO
- Charles Finny, Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO
- Peter Townsend, Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce CEO
[edit] Research Project Grants
The EUCN provides small funding grants on a competitive basis for individual or groups of academics from the partner universities. The aim of these grants is to provide funding to establish research projects on new EU-NZ research areas, allow academics to access key research resources and undertake fieldwork
