The New Zealand European Union Centres Network

Welcome to the website of the New Zealand European Union Centres Network, a network of seven New Zealand universities that aims to combine the three elements of research, teaching and outreach under a unique thematic umbrella focused on the impact, role and understanding of the European Union within New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.

The Network is multidisciplinary in orientation and open to all New Zealand universities with an interest in European Union Studies. The 1999 EU-NZ Joint Declaration - involving economics, politics, security, innovation, development, democratic values and people and cultures - defines the scope of the Network's activities.

 

10th Europa Lecture

europa lecture

The Hon. Murray McCully will present the 10th Europa Lecture on Wed 12th August in Auckland.

 

For further details click here.

 

New Resources for Secondary Schools

EU Resources for Secondary School Teachers

These new teaching resources, written for Year 12 Social Sciences teachers, provide innovative and exciting teaching and learning units to support the study of the European Union across the social sciences disciplines.  They are aligned with the new New Zealand Curriculum and have been written by New Zealand teachers and reviewed by curriculum experts.

Click here for further details.

 

EU Quiz

EU Quiz now available online - click here to run the quiz.

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

Europe Twenty Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall: Overcoming “East and West” – International Conference

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 3-4 November 2009

Fall of Berlin WallThis conference reflects on the origin, nature and impact of the divisions between the ‘two Europes’. We welcome papers which examine the divisions within Europe from a broad range of disciplines, including but not limited to: sociology, political science, economics, history and cultural studies. Papers might examine specific political, socio-economic and cultural developments in the countries of former Eastern Europe and/or the “Europe of 15” after 1989. They can refer to the problem of ‘divisions’ generally or in the context of relations among EU member states. Scholars who provide new theoretical and/or empirical insights into the events which led to or occurred in 1989 are also strongly encouraged to submit abstracts and present their papers at the conference.

The closing date for submissions is 29 May 2009.

>> Further Information

Singapore Economic Review Conference 2009 Call for Papers

August 6-8 (Thursday-Saturday) 2009, Singapore

Distinguished Speakers:

Joshua Aizenman (University of California, Santa Cruz), Pranab Bardhan (University of California, Berkeley), Ali Khan (John Hopkins University), Peter John Lloyd (University of Melbourne), Warwick J McKibbin (Australian National University), Ronald McKinnon (Stanford University), Danny Quah (London School of Economics), Donald Rubin (Harvard University), Clement Tisdell (University of Queensland), Wing Thye Woo (University of California, Davis), Peter John Lloyd (University of Melbourne), Cheng Hsiao (University of Southern California) and Hal Hill (Australia National University)

The Singapore Economic Review (SER) has been a leading journal in economics in Asia since it was founded in 1956. The SER is a general economics journal devoted to publishing papers of high academic standard. It covers a wide range of economic issues, especially those impinging on Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. SER is also indexed in major economics indices such as the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI); Google Scholar; EconLit; and RePec.

 

>>Submission information

Mr George Cunningham confirmed as Guest Speaker for the New Zealand Europe Business Council AGM

 Mr George Cunningham

Mr George Cunningham
Chargé d'Affaires
European Commission Delegation to New Zealand.

Previously, he was coordinator for bilateral trade relations with the United States at the European Commission's Directorate General for Trade. He has served as the number two and Head of the Accession Process and Cooperation Section at the European Commission's Delegation in Nicosia (2003-05) and was Head of Press and Public Affairs and political counsellor at the EC's Delegation to the United Nations in New York (2000-2003).

Tuesday, 5th May, at 5.30pm
at the offices of the British Consulate General,
Level 17, IAG House, 151 Queen Street, Auckland

(Corner of Queen and Wyndham Street)

>> Further Information

Speech on Baltic Security, University of Auckland

HE Mr Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Estonia will deliver a speech at the University of Auckland on Friday 17th of April.

>>Further information

National Europe Centre Public Lecture Series - Africa: Europe's Energy El Dorado

Speaker: Dr Karis Muller - Associate, National Europe Centre

Wednesday 29 April, 12:30-2:00 pm, Australian National University

Since the early twentieth century Europeanists have regarded secure access to Africa's energy reserves as the basis of a mututally beneficial relationship. Today, as the EU tackles environmental problems and faces increasing competition, it continues to favour Africa as a reliable source of electricity and fuel.

>> Further information

European Elections Website

A new website for the forthcoming European Elections has been launched.

>> Further information

Richie (International Research Network of Young Historians in European Integration)

The aim of our activities is to get in contact with young researchers and to assist them in answering calls for papers. We organise conferences and workshops, open to young researchers in European Integration History, and we have created a directory of young researchers and phd students in the field of European Integration. We publish an electronic-newsletter.

Our organisation is also in charge of a mailing list consecrated to the European Union.

>> Further Information

EUCN European Union Studies Graduate Weekend School

UC Kaikoura Field Station

To be held from Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd May 2009
At the UC Field Station in Kaikoura

The aims of the weekend are to highlight areas of interest for postgraduate students, create a network of expertise and to set up a “region of knowledge” on the European Union.

Get away from the everyday stresses of your studies, come along and:

>> Further Information

Mrs Quintin's Speech at the University of Melbourne

Visit of Mrs. Odile Quintin to Australia 2 March 2009 Speech at the University of Melbourne, hosted by EU Centres and Jean Monnet Centre.

One of my reasons for visiting Australia is to exchange ideas about higher education with the Australian authorities. Earlier today, I met my counterparts from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Our enriching discussions underline just how much we can improve by sharing our experience. In fact, the European Union itself places a high value on improving performance by learning from each other within a broad policy cooperation framework. It is worth remembering that within the EU, each of the 27 Member States is responsible for their own education systems. Although each system is unique, we all face the same challenges, and mutual learning can inspire all partners towards change.

The job of the European Commission is to support countries in taking forward their reforms, agreeing common objectives, and identifying successful policies and practices. We also manage a significant Lifelong Learning Programme, with a budget of about 7 billion euro (14 billion Australian dollars) from 2007 to 2013, which supports large-scale mobility within Europe, for schools, teachers, vocational education and adults, as well as higher education mobility in our popular Erasmus funding strand.


>> Full Text

Upcoming Swedish EU Presidency Launches Logo

Swedish EU LogoEuropean affairs minister, Cecilia Malmstrom, on Monday presented the logo of the upcoming Swedish EU presidency of in the second half of 2009. Climate change and financial regulation are likely to dominate Stockholm's agenda.
>> Read More

 

 

EUCN Board Members among New Years Honours Recipients

The European Union Centres Network extends its congratulations to two of its Board members, Margaret Wilson (Waikato) and Prof. Caroline Saunders (Lincoln), who were awarded in the New Years Honours List 2009. Margaret Wilson received the DCNZM for services as a Member of Parliament and as Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Caroline Saunders received the ONZM for services to agricultural research.

Additional funding round opened for Student Scholarships and Resarch Awards

Scholarship imageThe EUCN is pleased to announce an addtional funding round for students studying the EU within New Zealand. Funding is available to cover tuition fees for post-graduate students through our EUCN Fees Scholarships. Students can also apply for Research Awards which are aimed at helping students cover the costs of their research.

Application close Friday 6th February 2009. For further information and application forms please see our Scholarships page.

Ambassador Delivers Farewell Address

Ambassador JulienOn Wednesday the National Centre for Research on Europe hosted the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand, Mr Bruno Julien. The Ambassador is based in Canberra and was on a farewell visit to New Zealand as his posting comes to an end in November 2008.The Ambassador helped to inaugurate the new Lifesize videolink online system within the Centre, with interested academics and students from Auckland and Victoria Universities listening and participating via video conference.This was a great success and in 2009, it is hoped to utilise this technology to host many more national round table sessions. Further Information

Keynote Speech at Conference given by New Zealand's Speaker of the House

Hon. Margaret WilsonThe EUCN were honoured to have the New Zealand Speaker of the House, Hon Margaret Wilson as keynote speaker for the EUCN Conference: Europe in the Changing World. Ms Wilson focused on New Zealands relationship with Europe, in particular on the strong relationship between the European and New Zealand Parliaments. Ms Wilson also acknowledged the shared visions of Europe and New Zealand, characterised by the conclusion last September of the Joint Declaration on relations and cooperation. Full text of speech.

 

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