The election of the Rudd Government on 24 November 2007 signalled a more multilaterally-oriented role for Australia, in particular in the country’s relations with the United Nations (UN) and other like-minded international organisations. 

This research paper examines Australia’s relationship with the European Union (EU) and the growing cooperation between Australia and the EU on security matters.

The paper discusses the significance of Australia’s relationship with the EU and its re-affirmation under the Rudd Government. It also examines Australia’s and the EU’s responses to, and cooperation on tackling asymmetrical security challenges, such as transnational terrorism, organised crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction following the events of 11 September 2001.

Within a broader historical perspective, the paper analyses Australia’s relationship with the EU as a political and legal entity. It also suggests that after 11 September 2001 Australia’s relations with the EU were expanded to include cooperation on security in a broader sense, and in particular, on counter-terrorism and transnational organised crime. A security dimension of the Australia-EU relationship developed under the Howard Government, and has continued under the Rudd Government.

On 29 October 2008, Australia and the EU signed a new Partnership Framework in Paris, which updates and replaces the previous two bilateral agreements -- the 1997 Joint Declaration and the 2003-08 Agenda for Cooperation. Under this political agreement, Australia and the EU pledged to continue expanding cooperation in five broadly defined areas. In particular, the paper examines those sections of the Partnership Framework that relate to cooperation between Australia and the EU on security matters, multilateralism, climate change, democracy promotion, human rights, and their cooperation on overseas development assistance (ODA) in the South Pacific.