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European Parliament
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EU/New Zealand Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation

2016/0366(NLE)

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union, 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.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: 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 was signed on 5 October 2016, and some of its provisions are being applied on a provisional basis in accordance with the Agreement, pending its entry into force.

It is now necessary to approve the Agreement.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision seeks the approval, 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.

The objective of the Agreement is to strengthen the cooperation across a wide spectrum of policy fields, including:

  • human rights,
  • non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
  • the fight against terrorism,
  • cooperation on economic and trade matters,
  • health,
  • the environment,
  • climate change,
  • energy,
  • education,
  • culture,
  • labour,
  • disaster risk management,
  • fisheries and maritime affairs,
  • transport,
  • legal cooperation and the combating of money laundering, terrorist financing, organised crime and corruption.