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.
EUCN Scholarships for 2011
Applications are now open for EUCN Scholarships for the 2011 Academic Year.
Applications are invited from post-graduate students studying in New Zealand at a EUCN partner university whose research and study is focused on the European Union.
The deadline for applications is the Friday 22nd October 2010.
Further Information and Online Application
12th Europa Lecture
Rt. Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Rt. Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand will be delivering the keynote speech at the latest Europa Lecture in Wellington on the 12th October 2010. For further information and to register for this event click here.
MEP Internships for Postgraduate Students
Applications are now open for MEP Internships for the 2011 Academic Year.
Applications are invited from Postgraduate students studying in New Zealand at a EUCN partner University whose research and study is focused on the European Union.
This opportunity offers the opportunity to work as an intern for a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for three months from September 2011.
For further information and online application please click here
The deadline for applications is the 5pm on Friday 30th July 2010
Call for Papers for the EUCN Annual Conference 2010
European Integration at 60: Progress, Problems, Perspectives
25 – 26 November 2010, Lincoln University, Canterbury, NZ
Abstracts of 300 words should be submitted online by the 1st of August 2010.
For Further information and online submissions please click here
EUCN Weekend School
Last weekend 18 students from around the country joined staff for a retreat in Kaikoura. The Annual EUCN Postgraduate Weekend School, which was held at the University of Canterbury’s Kaikoura Field station, gave students the opportunity to present their current research, meet other students of the EU from around the country, participate in interactive skills workshops and also enjoy the beauty of Kaikoura and its wildlife.
To read more and see photos from the weekend please click here.
Internship and Exchange Opportunities for Postgraduate Students
Applications are now open for two new opportunities for Postgraduate Students who are studying the EU within New Zealand.
EUCN Domestic Internships: These internships off you the opportunity to work for three months with organisations such as the New Zealand Europe Business Council or the European Union Delegation. Funding is available for those who may have to travel to take up their internship.
Further information and online application forms.
Student Exchanges : This activity is designed to enable a number of postgraduate students from EUCN Partner Universities to undertake short term exchanges with a university in an EU Member State.
Further information and online application forms.
Applications for both activities close 5pm Wednesday 12th May 2010.
Applications Open for EUCN Academic Research Funding and Mobility Opportunities
Under a new grant from DG RELEX the EUCN is pleased to announce a new set of funding activities aimed at promoting research on the European Union and enhancing collaboration with centres of EU expertise in Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
There are three separate initiative open to academics research the European Union who are from a EUCN Partner University in New Zealand. All applications must be submitted online by 5pm on Wednesday 12th May.
- EUCN Comparative Regional Integration Project
- Staff Research Awards for Pilot Research Projects
- Academic Staff Exchanges with the EU
Further information and online application forms.
Members of European Parliament visit NCRE
On the 29th of March the NCRE hosted a visit from the Delegation to New Zealand from the European Parliament. The Delegation comprised six Members of the European Parliament representing the UK, Germany, Spain, Romania and Finland. The Delegation participated in a round table meeting with senior UC Staff on internationalisation at tertiary institutions in New Zealand. Discussion focused on the benefits to New Zealand of strong connections with international communities through international students studying in New Zealand and how to promote the mobility of New Zealand students. The importance of focusing on key strengths, uniqueness and innovation to attract international and corporate collaboration was highlighted. Prof. Holland discussed the European Union funding received by the NCRE and EUCN that had helped to overcome the distance between New Zealand and Europe and promoted a better understanding of the relevance of the EU to the Asia Pacific region.
After a tour of the NCRE and an introduction by Prof. Holland about the activities of the Centre and its national and international networks there was a wide ranging and informal exchange of views between the MEPs and staff and students of the Centre. Topics discussed ranged from the introduction of the Lisbon Treaty, the impact of sustainable energy sources for future enlargements and internal and external perceptions of the EU.
Speech to the National Press Club, H.E. Ambassador David Daly
“Europe’s man in Canberra – one year on” - Speech to the National Press Club, Canberra, delivered by H.E. Ambassador David Daly, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Australia, 24 March 2010.
Traineeship Programme at the European Commission
The European Commission has a traineeship programme that selects stagiaires (or interns) to work at the Commission for a five month period. A number of these stagiaires positions are held open for students from outside the European Union. To be eligible you must have completed a three year university degree.
For more information on eligibility, the selection process, applications forms and other general information then please go to the European Commission website.
Call for Applications
Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program), 2010/11
Applications are now being accepted for study in the Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program) (MHRD).
Partially funded by the European Commission, the MHRD is a unique Master degree program in which students undertake a foundational semester of study at the University of Sydney, and then a second semester at one of the four partner universities:
- Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)
- Mahidol University (Thailand)
- Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal)
- University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)
Graduates of the course will gain a solid and interdisciplinary understanding of human rights and democratisation with a special focus on the Asia Pacific, as well as having the opportunity to conduct empirical research and analysis of the practice of human rights and democratisation in a developing country.
Click here for further information
Applications are now open for the EUCN’s Annual Weekend School for 2010
Kaikoura, 21st – 23rd May 2010
The Programme will consist of skills workshops, presentations and group activities and is open to postgraduate students from any EUCN partner university who is studying a European Union relevant topic.
Further information:
Click here for further information and registration
European trade delegation in New Zealand for high level talks
26 February 2010
A delegation from the European Union led by senior trade negotiator Mauro Petriccione is in New Zealand from 22 to 24 February for discussions on trade and investment with New Zealand officials, business and students. The European Union and New Zealand are working together in the WTO, they are both keen to improve multilateral and bilateral relationships, and both have been actively negotiating Free Trade Agreements with Asian countries.
In Wellington, there was a full and stimulating day of talks with Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Ministry of Economic Development and Investment New Zealand. The party then travelled to Auckland for an EU – NZ Trade conference, hosted by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce with support and participation by Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and the New Zealand Europe Business Council.
In Christchurch, the party will meet with Prof Martin Holland of the National Centre for Research on Europe and hold a video-conference with students from across the national European Union Centre Networks.
€1 Million grant for EUCN
26 February 2010
February sees the kick-off of a European Commission grant worth €1 million for 54 months to the European Union Centres Network. The 7 universities comprising the Network met in Christchurch last week to plan their activities for the year.
Congratulations to Professor Martin Holland and the University of Canterbury!
At the same meeting, 3 students were chosen for internships to the European Parliament later in the year. We wish them well.
Caption: Front row: Teresa Cunningham (Lincoln, sitting in for Prof. Saunders), Jim Headley (Otago), Margaret Wilson (Waikato), Natalia Chaban (Canterbury) and Sarah Christie (EUCN)Back Row: Kim Moggach (EUCN), David Mayes (Auckland), Jeff McNeill (Massey), Martin Holland (EUCN and NCRE), John Leslie (VUW) and George Cunningham (EU Delegation to New Zealand).
European Union - New Zealand Trade Conference: Creating opportunities in markets
Ensure you're open for global business by joining leading European and New Zealand political and business commentators who will come together in February 2010 to discuss trade solutions that underpin our economic future. Your insights as a front-line business person are vital.
Hon Tim Groser, Minister of Trade, will open proceedings. Mr Mauro Petriccione, Director, Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission will discuss the impact and learnings European FTA negotiations have provided to negotiators and European business. Crawford Falconer of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) will share what New Zealand has learnt from its FTA negotiations.
Date: Tuesday 23rd February Time: 7.30am - 12.30pm (registration starts at 7.15am) Venue: Hyatt Regency, Cnr Waterloo & Princes Street, Auckland City Tickets: $45.00 + GST
To register please click here or email events@chamber.co.nz
| Europe 1989-2009, Reunited and Revitalised |
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall and Communist rule in Europe, as well as the 5th anniversary of the EU’s enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta, a series of events examining the
legacy of these changes for Europe and the world will take place across New Zealand.
11th Europa Lecture
The Rt. Hon. Lord Christopher Patten of Barnes will be presenting the latest Europa Lecture in Christchurch on the 29th of October in the Great Hall of the Arts Centre at 6pm. He will be talking on "London, Hong Kong and Brussels - Leadership and Sovereignty in a Muddled World".
For further details and to register click here.
Europe Twenty Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall: Overcoming “East and West” – International Conference - Update 07.08.09
Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 3-4 November 2009
We would like to thank everyone for their interest in this conference. Registrations have now closed.
The organizers are very pleased to announce that the Parliament of New Zealand has generously permitted conference sessions to be held in the Parliament Buildings. The organizers are also pleased to make known that they have secured the presence of another extraordinary political figure of European modern history.
For further information on the conference and organisational updates please see our conference webpage >> Further Information
University scheme for EU studies marks 20 years
A university student support scheme on EU integration this year marks two decades of helping new member states and candidate countries grow accustomed to European Union history, law and economics.
Named after a French entrepreneur who in the aftermath of the Second World War played a key-role in the creation of what later became the European Union, the Jean Monnet programme was introduced in 1989 to help universities set up departments and courses on European studies.
It has since expanded to 62 countries all over the world and reaches 250,000 students every year, with an annual budget of over €23 million.
Poland and the Sleeping Beauty of European Integration, 1989-2019
Pawel Swieboda, president of DemosEuropa visits New Zealand on 30 August - 19 September 2009 on the invitation of the New Zealand European Union Centre Network, New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Victoria University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Mr. Swieboda attended the roundtable meetings in the MFAT and was received by Mr John Allen, Ministry's Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
On the 31st of August at Victoria University, Mr Swieboda delivered an address "Poland and the sleeping beauty of the European Union, 1989 -2019". He was interviewed by The Dominion Post and Radio New Zealand."
Click here for Pawel Swieboda's full address.
EUCN Scholarships for 2010
Applications are now open for EUCN Scholarships for the 2010 Academic Year. Applications are invited from post-gradutate students studying in New Zealand at a EUCN partner univeristy whose research and study is focused on the European Union. The deadline for applications is the 23rd of October. Further Information and Online Application.
European in Residence - Mr. Pawel Swieboda 
Mr Swieboda is the founder demosEUROPA – Centre for European Strategy. Previously, and he has previously worked as advisor to the president of Poland on EU issues in the years 1996-2000. He will be spending three weeks in New Zealand as part of the EUCN European in Residence scheme where he will be government, academic and public groups to disucss issues around engaging with the EU.
Further details (including details for public lectures).
10th Europa Lecture
The Hon. Murray McCully, Minister for Foreign Affairs presented the 10th Europa Lecture on Wed 12th August in Auckland.
For further details click here.
Launch of the new EU Schools Curriculum
Images from the opening of the new EU Secondary School Curriculum in Wellington.
New Resources for Secondary Schools
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.