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Home > Countries > Europe > European Union

European Union

Key facts about the European Union
High level visits from New Zealand and the European Union
Advice for New Zealanders travelling to the European Union

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area 3,974,000 sq km

Population 493 million (2007)

Capital City European Commission based in Brussels

Political

Members Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

European Parliament - Last election - June 2004 - Next election due - June 2009

Presidency Slovenia January - June 2007, France July - December 2008

Economic

GDP €12.2 bn (2007 est)

Real GDP growth 2.8% (2007 est)

Exports US$3,999 billion

Imports US$4,018 billion

Main exports Machinery and vehicles , other manufactures, chemicals, food and drink, energy and raw materials

Main Imports Machinery and vehicles, other Manufactures, energy and raw materials, chemicals, food and drink

Current account balance US$147.3 bn (2007)

Inflation 2.8% (2007 est)

Unemployment 8.5% (2006)

New Zealand Trade

NZ Exports (FOB) (EU 25) $5.296 billion

Main Exports – sheep meat, kiwifruit, wine, wool, venison, apples, butter

NZ Imports (CIF) (EU 25) NZ$6.970 billion

Main Imports motor vehicles, medicaments, warships and lifeboats, trucks and vans, tractors, electrical generators

(year ended June 2007) top of page

Visits

Ministerial and official visits to and from the European Union are frequent occurrences. The New Zealand Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence visit Europe on average two or three times a year (counted together) as part of New Zealand’s regular exchanges with the European Union.

New Zealand Ministerial Visits to the European Union

Hon Lianne Dalziel, Minister of Commerce, Ministry of Food Safety, March 2008
Rt Hon Helen Clark - Prime Minister, October 2007
New Zealand Parliamentary Delegation, October 2007
Hon Steve Maharey - Minister of Research, Science and Technology, March 2007
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Trade, of Defence, and of Disarmament and Arms Control, January 2007
Hon Michael Cullen - Deputy Prime Minister, September 2006
Rt Hon Winston Peters - Minister of Foreign Affairs, September 2006
Rt Hon Winston Peters - Minister of Foreign Affairs, April 2006
Hon Phil Goff – Minister of Trade and of Defence, February 2006
Rt Hon Helen Clark - Prime Minister, November 2005
Rt Hon Winston Peters - Minister of Foreign Affairs, November 2005
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade February 2005
Hon Jim Sutton - Minister for Trade Negotiations January 2005
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade September 2004
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade April 2004
Hon Judith Tizard - Minister of Consumer Affairs April 2004
Hon Trevor Mallard - Minister of Education October 2003
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade September 2003
Hon Pete Hodgson - Minister of Research, Science and Technology June 2003
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade May 2003
Rt Hon Helen Clark - Prime Minister April 2003
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade September 2002
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade May 2002
Hon Jim Sutton - Minister for Trade Negotiations May 2002
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade September 2001
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade May 2001
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade May 2000

European Union Visits to New Zealand

Benita Ferrero-Waldner - External Relations Commissioner, June 2007
European Parliamentary Delegation, March 2006
Mariann Fischer-Boel - Agricultural Commissioner, March 2006
Pascal Lamy - Trade Commissioner September 2004
Poul Nielson - Development Commissioner Jan/Feb 2004
Chris Patten - Commissioner External Relations April 2003
European Parliamentarians February 2003
Poul Nielson - Development Commissioner October 2002
Pascal Lamy - Trade Commissioner May 2002
Herman Versteijlen - Head of Dairy Unit, DG Agriculture, European Commission February 2002
Jose Silva Rodriguez - Director-General of Agriculture, European Commission December 2001
Robert Madelin - Director, DG Trade, European Commission March 2001
Mary Minch - Deputy Director General, DG Agriculture, European Commission February 2001
European Parliamentarians March 2000

Travel advice

The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Europe [external link].

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Page last updated: Thursday, 20 March 2008 16:38 NZDT

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