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BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Helen Clark today raised the prospect of a free trade deal between New Zealand and the European Union (EU)
Miss Clark said she has raised the issue of a free trade agreement during talks with European Commission (EC) president Jose Barroso.
Last month, New Zealand and the EU last month signed a five-year declaration of co-operation on trade and economic issues, but Miss Clark said she wanted to be more ambitious in the future.
"I've raised with them that we want to keep this issue of where the trade and economic relationship goes under review," Miss Clark said.
The EU was negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with Korea, was considering one with Canada, and already had agreements with Mexico, South Africa and Chile, Miss Clark said.
"And we are raising the issue ... well, when will you look at New Zealand?"
The declaration specifically referred to keeping the EU-New Zealand trade and economic relationship under review, with a view to developing a broader framework or a more formalised trade and economic partnership in the future.
"So, I would say, at least towards the end of the five-year period of this new relationship document we'd be looking to see whether we could take that somewhere further," Miss Clark said.
However, the response was that the European Commission does not have a set template for FTAs.
"I'm not saying it would happen overnight, but medium term it is something we need to keep in our sights," she said.
Miss Clark also signed an agreement with Nato's new Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, to share classified information.
The talks with Mr Scheffer focused on Nato's role in Afghanistan, and Miss Clark said New Zealand's contribution would continue for a "long time".
"The ability to exchange information is critical to practical cooperation and for example will help enhance the safety of our personnel deployed in Afghanistan," Miss Clark said.
Across town at the EU, Miss Clark signed up New Zealand to work with the European mission to train Afghan police officers.
The three New Zealand police officers working in the central province of Bamiyan as part of a training mission previously led by Germany will now switch to the EU command, she said.
The New Zealand troops are also based in Bamiyan as part of the Nato-led force.
Afghanistan was invaded in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks as the United States and others sought to topple the Taleban-led government for giving support to terrorists.
Since then troops from numerous countries have been battling Taleban supporters while trying to rebuild the shattered infrastructure of Afghanistan.
While in Belgium Miss Clark will also attend commemorations at Passchendaele in Flanders, scene of New Zealand's worst military disaster.
In 1917, during two battles on October 4 and 12, more than 1300 young New Zealand men were killed and thousands wounded.
In Paris, Miss Clark will open the New Zealand Rugby Ball - a tourism and trade promotion venue set up at the base of the Eiffel Tower during the Rugby World Cup.
She is also scheduled to attend the All Blacks' World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff, and take part in a New Zealand Trade and Enterprise organised event there.
- NZPA
