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LONDON - Prime Minister Helen Clark today said she has discussed formalising New Zealand's closeness with the European Union (EU) in talks with the leaders of France and Germany.
Overnight in Paris she met with France president Jacques Chirac and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) secretary general Angel Gurria.
Building New Zealand's relationship with the EU had been touched on in those talks, Helen Clark told NZPA, adding the relationship required support from the big member countries like France and Germany.
"There's an appreciation in Brussels that New Zealand is the most like-minded country on earth to the EU," she said. "That's why I've been starting to suggest that perhaps in time we need to look at a way of formalising the closeness we have in some kind of greater partnership.
"That could encompass not only more agreement on trade and access, but also in areas like science and education, where we're doing a lot together, and dialogue on security as well."
When asked how the suggestion had been received, the Prime Minister said: "I think it's early days, but reasonably positively."
Yesterday, in Germany, discussions included talks on New Zealand's wish to have agreements with Europe on aviation and wine, as well as making the existing science and technology arrangement more formal.
The talks with Mr Chirac also touched on China's role in the South Pacific, she said.
- NZPA
