50 years of EU-Australia relations

Wednesday 18 April 2012 5.00 - 6.30pm

50 years ago, in March 1962, Sir Edwin McCarthy took up his position as the first Australian Ambassador to the EU. Since then EU-Australia relations have had their ups and downs but today the relationship is broader, deeper and stronger than ever - but many challenges lie ahead.
Every month this year, two or three Ambassadors and/or High Commissioners from EU Member States, together with Australian Ambassadors to Europe and other experts, will gather at the ANUCES to talk about their country and why it joined the EU, their current position and how their country interacts with Australia. Most of the events will be recorded and broadcast by Radio National's "Big Ideas" program, and filmed by the Sky A-Pac Channel.

This month we are fortunate to be joined by H.E. Dr Hynek Kmoníček, Ambassador for the Czech Republic to Australia and New Zealand, H.E. Dr Mihai-Stefan Stuparu, Ambassador for Romania to Australia and New Zealand, H.E. Dr Milan Balažic, Ambassador for the Republic of Slovenia to Australia and New Zealand, Dr John Besemeres from the ANU Centre for European Studies and Distinguished Professor Ian McAllister of Political Science at the ANU, who will together discuss the fifty years of relations between Australia and the EU. Joining them will be Mr Paul Bongiorno, National Affairs Editor at Network Ten, who will moderate the discussion.

ANUCES is an initiative involving four ANU Colleges (Arts and Social Sciences, Law, Business and Economics, and Asia and the Pacific) co-funded by the ANU and the European Union.

Venue: ANU Centre for European Studies, 1 Liversidge Street (Bldg 67C), Canberra
Parking: please see the Visitor Parking Map
RSVP: euaustralia@anu.edu.au by Monday 16 April 2012

ANUCES is an initiative involving four ANU Colleges (Arts and Social Sciences, Law, Business and Economics, and Asia and the Pacific) co-funded by the ANU and the European Union.