ABIE in Brussels: 2018 EU-Australia Leadership Forum
ABIE was well-represented by its participating organisations this week at the 2018 EU-Australia Leadership Forum in Brussels, part of the EU's suite of public diplomacy actions to build on the existing strong bilateral relationship and to broaden and deepen existing ties.
ABIE was well-represented by its participating organisations this week at the 2018 EU-Australia Leadership Forum in Brussels, part of the EU's suite of public diplomacy actions to build on the existing strong bilateral relationship and to broaden and deepen existing ties.
We attended two days of engaging and lively presentations and roundtables as part of the Senior Leader’s Forum which brings together key European and Australian leaders from Government and Opposition, business, media, education and civil society. It was a valuable opportunity for ABIE to be part of the conversations that influence policy making on issues related to EU-Australia relations, in particular shaping the vision for the current FTA negotiations.
Highlights of the Forum included the keynote presentations from Herman van Rompuy (President, European Policy Centre), Elmar Brok (Chair, European Parliament Affairs Committee), Frederica Mogherini (High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission) and His Excellency Justin Brown (Australian Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and NATO). During the panel discussions the Australian perspective was shared by, amongst others, The Hon. Simon Crean (pictured) (Deputy Chair, European Business Council), Duncan Lewis (Director General of Security, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), The Reverend Tim Costello (Chief Advocate, World Vision Australia) and Laura Tingle (Chief Political Correspondent for 7.30, ABC).
Photo from left: Hon Simon Crean (Deputy Chair, EABC), André Haermeyer (Germany), Rafael Jaron (Belgium), Gina Bowman (Spain), Elizabeth Ames (UK), Juan Millán (Spain), Sabine Pittrof (Germany), Timothée Goulain (EABC), Joana Kehlibarova (Bulgaria), Jason Collins (EABC).