European Union

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area  4,215,100 sq km

Population   498.9 million (2010 est.)

Capital City  European Commission based in Brussels; European Parliament based in Brussels and Strasbourg

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 2009; Next election due: June 2014

EU Council Presidency Poland July - December 2011; Denmark January - June 2012
EU Council President - Herman van Rompuy (two and a half year term started on 1 January 2010)
European Commission President - Jose Manuel Barroso

Economic (2010 est)

GDP €12.28 trillion

Real GDP growth 1.8%

Exports € 1.50 trillion

Imports € 1.35 trillion

Main exports Machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, food and drink

Main Imports Machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals, textiles, metals, food and drink

Current account balance US$51.4 bn (2009 est.)

Inflation 2.5% (2011 est.)

New Zealand Trade (year to December 2010)

NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$4.9 billion

Main Exports – sheep meat, fresh fruit, wine, apples, wool, butter

NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$6.2 billion

Main Imports - aircraft, motor vehicles, medicaments, tractors, telephone equipment 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 Tim Groser – Minister of Trade, April 2011
• Hon David Carter - Minister of Agriculture, July 2009
• Hon Murray McCully - Minister of Foreign Affairs, May 2009
• Hon Tim Groser - Minister of Trade, February 2009
• 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

European Union Visits to New Zealand

• José Manuel Barroso, President, European Commission, September 2011
• Karel De Gucht, Trade Commissioner, March 2011
• Mauro Petriccione, Director, DG Trade, European Commission, February 2010
• Charlie McCreevy, Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, October 2009
• European Parliamentarians, July 2008
• 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

Travel advice

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

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