EUCN Europa Lecture Series
The Europa Lecture Series is the European Union Centres Network's prestige public lecture series, usually presented annually by a high profile, leading New Zealand or European politician.
NIne lectures have been presented as part of the series since its inception at the National Centre for Research on Europe in 2001. All the lectures to this point have been delivered in either Christchurch or Wellington, however, as this activity has now forms part of the EUCN's annual activities, the lectures will be held in several different cities over the next three years.
Europa Lecture - Lord Patten, 2009
The second Europa Lecture for the year was presented by the Rt.Hon. the Lord Christopher Patten of Barnes in Christchurch in the Great Hall of the Arts Centre on the 29th of October.
Lord Patten presented on “London, Hong Kong and Brussels – Leadership and Sovereignty in a Muddled World” to a packed house where even the standing room was full.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes has had a distinguished career in European and International Politics. He was the Member of the British Parliament for Bath from 1979 -1992. While in Parliament he was the Minister of Overseas Development and Secretary of State for the Environment. He has been the Chairman of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party and was the 28th Governor of Hong Kong, overseeing the handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997. In 1999 he was appointed as the Commissioner for External Relations for the European Union’s European Commission. He has published six books which showcase his knowledge of politics and international relations. He is currently the Chancellor of Oxford University.
This lecture is part of the “Europe Revitalised and Reunited” series of events that will be held around the country to mark the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Lord Patten’s speech looked at the way traditional notions of sovereignty have changed and been challenged in the recent past, using his experiences from Hong Kong, Northern Ireland and Brussels to illustrate his points. He suggested that in the face of many problems that face modern states, many of which are global in nature, a concept of shared sovereignty needs to be negotiated in order to deal with these. He then looked at the challenge to this notion that identity politics creates and how these rigid singular identities need to be overcome if nations (and individuals) wish to deal with global problems in an effective and efficient manner.
Europa Lecture 2009 - Hon. Murray McCully
The first of the two Europa Lectures for 2009 was presented by the Hon. Murray McCully, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday 12th August in Auckland. The Minister addressed the topic "New Zealand and the European Union: A New Relationship" and emphasised the opportunity to generate a stronger relationship and greater collaboration between the EU and New Zealand in matters of development and security within the Pacific. The lecture was chaired by Mr George Cunningham, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the European Commission Delegation in Wellington. Over 50 business, academic, government and community leaders attended the lecture, which was organised in association with the NZ-Europe Business Council.
Full text of Speech - "New Zealand and the European Union: A New Relationship"
Europa Lecture 2008
The Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented the 2008 Europa Lecture on the 12th of June at the Univeristy of Auckland. The event was hosted by the EUCN and the NZ-Europe Business Council. The lecture was chaired by Mr George Cunningham, Chargé d'Affaires of the European Commission Delegation in Wellington.
Mr Peters spoke on "New Zealand and Europe: A Partnership for the 21st Century". He described the relationship between New Zealand and Europe as one that is now a more "mature, balanced, and mtually beneficial relationship than at any time in our history" . He also encouraged New Zealanders to develop more up-to -date understandings of the vitality of Europe and of its value to New Zealand as an economic superpower and a region that "exemplifies many of our own aspirations".
2008
New Zealand and Europe: A Partnership for the 21st Century.
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs
12th June 2008, Owen G Glenn Building, Auckland University
Previous Europa Lectures
2007
The European Union and New Zealand - New Perspectives
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Commissioner for External Relations
Full text of address
2006
European agricultural policy in a changing environment
Mariann Fischer Boel
Member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development
Full text of address (.pdf, 76kb)
2005
Turkey and the EU: Opportunities and Challenges for NZ
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister of Turkey
Full text of address (.pdf, 86kb)
New Zealand and Europe, twelve months after enlargement
The Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and Pacific Island Affairs, New Zealand
Full text of address (.pdf, 115kb)
2004
Annual Europa Lecture to the National Centre for Research on Europe
The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom
Full text of address (.pdf, 74kb)
2003
EU-NZ Relations After Enlargement
Chris Patten
EU Commissioner for External Relations
Full text of address (.pdf, 37kb)
2002
New Zealand's Relationship with Europe
Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Full text of address (.pdf, 41kb)
2001
What's Europe Done for Us? Inaugural Europa Lecture
Terrence Wynn
Member of the European Parliament
Full text of address (.pdf, 115kb)
Overheads from address (.pdf, 127kb)