EU AS APARTNER ENHANCING REGIONAL COOPERATION IN PACIFIC
Tatiana Tökölyová[1]
Summary
The paper is to analyse the changed condition in the Pacific as the EU, as anew actor enhancing development of Pacific, appeared, through an analyse of increased role of regional organisations (provided examples and briefly their role) in Pacific enhanced by activity of New Zealand and Australia within Lome convention and Millennium goals of UN focusing on the main problems of the region (society building, health conditions and health care, education,...) via signed documents in EU concerning this regional cooperation –to support regional development, humanitarian activities, support of export/trade, i.e. a support of building of independent and modern agriculture and industry of the LDCs, and thus supporting state building process there. The main question of the paper is what the EU´s priorities are there with its neighbouring policies. The paper is to be divided into two main parts, the first one is to provide analyse of the regional cooperation in the region led mainly by New Zealand, and the second part enters the EU as avery active partner of the region in its development and cooperation thus providing acomplex picture of changing role of EU as an international actor.
INTRODUCTION:
We can claim that the geographical and isolationist nature of New Zealand are not inhibiting it to be the internationally well known and respected player. New Zealand is very active and cooperates mainly in the Pacific region, but internationally it participates in many international organizations, such as the WTO, UN, International Monetary Fund, OECD, World Bank or International Energy Agency, and forms part of many regional alliances, such as ANZUS, ANZAM, APEC, SEATO or the Pacific Islands Forum. This, the most peaceful country of the previous year, is very active in the areas of peace and security as well as has entered into various agreements and declarations with the EU in various areas as disarmament and peace keeping missions, trade policy (discrimination of home exporters and free trade agreements), environmental challenges (climate change or fishing quotas), human rights or inter-civilisation and interfaith dialogue, as the submitted paper is to prove.
Cooperation of the EU and the Pacific countries (often referred as ACP countries; most of them face high rate of poverty, mal-administration, etc.)[2] lasts for more than 30 years and this long-term relation is based mainly on common historical roots, values and established trade cooperation. Developing cooperation resulted into requirement to adopt first EU Strategy for the Pacific the main goal of which is to strengthened political dialogue and cooperation and thus improvement of efficiency of the provided assistance. Adoption of such document may be considered as a declaration of growing importance of this region in economic, political, and also in environmental areas as this region is rich in significant natural resources (e.g. wood, oil, fish, minerals,…). From environmental point of view, this region plays a significant role in effort to eliminate impacts of climate changes.
Among various significant steps made by EU, there are many initiated and put into life by the Council, as for example so-called Cotonou Agreement and European Consensus on Development (that provides common political standpoint adopted by the EP) which provide a new base and new impulses to deepen the relations and cooperation established between the EU and the Pacific countries. The main point stressed by the EU is fight against poverty and its elimination in the most possible extend within context of sustainable development and the Paris Declaration on Development Assistance (and other related documents).
1. Regional cooperation in the region led by New Zealand as a Pacific actor
However, New Zealand is considered to be a small country, during its short independent history it has proven its ability to play significant role in international relations and to react on various world challenges. New Zealand introduced itself into international surrounding not only via military actions of joint corps of Australia and New Zealand (ANZAC) but also its political leaders, as for example prime minister Peter Fraser who understood the role of the country to provide military and security protection to the Pacific region (as the World War II evidently proved that Great Britain had not been able to provide sufficient security to the region any more) through alliances with great powers and the country´s membership in significant global as well as regional organisations.
Country gradually entered into relation with main international political and economic organisations as UN, APEC, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), CER, OECD, WTO (New Zealand has joint so –called Doha Development Agenda), IMF, and others. It has signed many free trade agreements for example with Australia, China, Chile,…[3] Its growing position in this region has been declared by the country´s membership in The Asian Development Bank as well as via its participation at the Colombo Plan upon which New Zealand is bound to provide its Asian partners financial as well as technical support. New Zealand has proven to be an active UN member states as it participates at UN programs and is one of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific.[4] The country stresses its position as a Pacific actor also through its active work in various regional groupings, as SEATO, ASPAC, South Pacific Commission (regional organisation that provides assistance and help to the countries having under their administration non-self governing areas of the South Pacific), South Pacific Forum, Colombo Plan, and others.
APEC membership provides New Zealand evident economic advantages as 14 of the APEC member states belong among 20 most important export markets of New Zealand (mainly three most powerful economies of the world – US, China andJapan; APEC countries cover around 70% of the country´s total market and60% direct foreign investments.
Concerning EU, it has developed into a key player in various international issues of common interest as well as in New Zealand and EU market is the second biggest market for New Zealand (just after Australia, it is approximately 15 per cent of the total country´s export) and as the EU grows through taking new member states, it is becoming the most rapidly growing market for New Zealand´s products (butter, fruits, sheep products and others).
As foreign policy issues, since second half of the 20th century mainly, as the issues of various areas of the country´ s issue, as economy, security and human rights are closely interconnected and influencing each other, it is necessary to draw up the fundamental lines in the foreign policy of New Zealand. Upon the close analyse of all the relevant facts, we may state the following lines of development of the foreign policy of New Zealand. Historical line and economic line –historical roots of the country underlying the strong tights to Great Britain not only in the state-building area (colony – dominion- independent state) but also considering its trade and exports. Security line – this draws the way of the country from the joint troops with Australia in ANZAC to ANZUS, a military pact with USA, Australia up to their independent army now considered to be one of the best trained and equipped armies in the world. Environmental line – closely connected and having inseparable impact not only on foreign policy of the country but also on its military/security issues as proclaimed New Zealand to be “a green” non-nuclear country (as below).
All these lines are highly interconnected in the time and space and shaped not only New Zealand’s political system as a unique one, but also significantly shaped their foreign policy and nation building and made New Zealand significant Pacific actor, as proven in this paper.
New Zealand volunteer army actively participated both world wars, either European fronts or non – European ones on the side of Great Britain. During the World War II it joined its troops with the Australian’s ones into so-called ANZAC (The Australian and New Zealand Corps; became famous after Gallipoli campaign where suffered great casualties but gave a birth to a new nation). After the war New Zealand was given a mandate above West Samoa and together with Australia and Great Britain they shared administration of Nauru Island.[5]
Post- war period was a crucial one for all administrations as they had to take life decisions shaping it future life. New Zealand, however a small country and young nation, occurred in so critical situations probably solved with difficulties by bigger and more experienced countries.
One of such challenges occurred when Great Britain struggled and applied for its EC membership. This, for the first sight purely domestic issue of Great Britain, extremely jeopardised New Zealand’s economy. Great Britain was a traditional market country for most of the New Zealand’s production from the very beginning of a “production history” of the country. From the very beginning of the history of this colony it was an export country of many traditional products and London literally started to be used for them. So all the post – war governments struggled to substitute traditional British marked where the country’s products were mainly exported to. After Britain succeeded to join EC and started to apply all related obligations, New Zealand experienced an economic shock. But as tradition in New Zealand, every negative should be changed into a positive so the effort for diversification of New Zealand’s overseas trade required and pushed their representatives to be more interested in participation in international relations, pushed forward crucial decisions and policies to adopted. Thanks to this successfully passed period now the country is considered to be on of the most reform and progressive countries not only from economic point of view (reforms of R. Douglas) but also of political point of view (e.g. electoral reform in 1993) as it fully understood how a continuance of taken policies realisation is important for one country.
As a result, the country entered close relations with its closest neighbour, Australia through various agreements. It had also intensified (in the 60th and 70th) its economic and political relations with Japan (e.g. New Zealand was a founding member of, not existing any more, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization founded in 1954).
1987 general elections won Labour party led by David Lange after electoral campaign built on motto calling for non –nuclear policy of the country. As a result, New Zealand banned all nuclear vessels to their ports and reaction of their ANZUS partners was then more then clear[6] - military protection obligation resulting from 1952 ANZUS Treaty was suspended from USA and Australia.
Another important step concerning their security issues was that in 1986 they cancelled military service by law. As below, in 1987 National party continued its anti-nuclear policy and as a result, USA re-evaluated its relation towards New Zealand from an ally to a friend country.
In the 90th of the last century New Zealand, besides Australia, more and more traded with countries of Asian continent however the most important one still stayed Australia tied with in CER –Closer Economic Relations since 1983 that still is one of the most effective free trade agreements in the world. For example, in the period of 1991 – 1993 rate of export to the most important partner Asian countries (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) increased in 17 % and reached 4. 540 mil. NZ dollar, i.e. one quarter of the whole New Zealand’s export then.[7]
Also membership inAPEC provides New Zealand definite advantages as up to 14 from the 20 most important markets of New Zealand are APEC member states and mainly the three strongest world economies – USA, China and Japan. Up to 70% of New Zealand’s total trade and 60% of direct foreign investments comprise the region of APEC countries.[8]
New Zealand as aPacific actor is amember of various not only general IGO´s but also of many regional organisations as SEATO, ASPAC, South Pacific Commission, South Pacific Forum, Colombo Plan, NAFTA and others.
New Zealand, together with Australia, is the most important donor country in the area and both countries have announced increase of their share on the aid provided in the region. Because this fact both the most significant countries of the region support all the cooperation with the EU and projects realised via EU.
EU opens another dimension of development of the Pacific for New Zealand as it declares the region´s future to be the country´s responsibility. New Zealand has historically and constitutionally the closest relations with the Pacific islands (for example Tokelau island is still under administration of New Zealand because of two unsuccessful referenda held thus refusing its of self-government based on UN initiation) but also ethnically as most of New Zealand´s population is of Polynesian origin. Therefore, primary area of New Zealand´s foreign policy is centred to Pacific area.
New Zealand´s relation with this region prove also significant economic and development area as the country has become the Pacific´s trade partner as well as donor of development aid and assistance. Significant support for cooperation with the EU has been influenced also by a fact that 11 from 15 Pacific countries are small developing island countries (as their population is under or around 250.000 inhabitants). For such countries, cooperation with big actors does not bring loss of their independence (as for example due to increased interconnection of economiec that brings also many risks for them) but especially such a partnership provides possibilities for real fulfilment an increase of all the aspects of their independent functioning and administration (as for example Millennium Development Goals).[9] Pacific has a network of regional organisations and institutions which play an important role in addressing shared development challenges. Australia altogether with New Zealand advocate for Pacific regionalism and the Pacific Plan, and offers significant support to these Pacific Regional Organisations (PROs).