About
About the project
After decades of tension and conflict, Australia’s relationship with the European Union (EU) has reached a milestone. The new engagement is comprehensive, reflecting an Australian all-of-government commitment to work with the EU, its institutions and member states. With the multi-faceted Framework Agreement coming into force provisionally in 2018, this treaty level relationship constitutes a priority engagement. It is expected to strengthen EU-Australia actions and interests on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues. Yet significant challenges place the relationship at a critical juncture. Faced with Brexit, continued uncertainty surrounding the United States’ international role, and increasing regional and global instability, Australia and the EU are seeking to enhance cooperation to tackle these challenges.
This project has conducted an examination of relations between Australia and the EU. It identified opportunities for this engagement to further develop around a range of policies and forums. It examined the dialogue and negotiation of key agreements and policy engagement (including multilateral and regional cooperation, security, trade, refugee flows) especially within the Asia-Pacific/Indo Pacific. It assessed the implications of the Framework Agreement and the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.
The project’s research findings have been disseminated at numerous conferences, seminars and workshops in both Australia and Europe. TANPEAR has held a series of events as part of this project, where scholars, policy makers, and representatives of industry and civil society discussed key issues in the relationship. A substantial number of publications has been produced. Additional research outputs will be published over the next few years. Three key publications the of TANPEAR team are:
- Murray, P. and Matera, M., 2019, Australia and the European Union: Towards Deeper Engagement, Policy Report (October), The University of Melbourne.
- Murray, P. and Matera, M., 2019, Australia and the European Union: Trends and Current Synergies, Policy Report (May), The University of Melbourne.
- Matera, M. and Murray, P. eds. 2020, EU-Australia Relations: Synergies and Shared Concerns, The University of Melbourne. A version of this collection was also published, by invitation, in Global Affairs, 2019, vol 5, issues 4-5.
A selection of publications is presented below:
- Allison-Reumann, L., Matera, M., Murray, P. 2020, The implications of Brexit for relations between the EU, the UK and Australia, in Gänzle, S, Leruth, B, and Trondal, J (eds): Differentiated Integration and Disintegration n a Post-Brexit Era? London, Routledge, pp. 219-236.
- Allison-Reumann, L., Matera, M. and Murray, P. 2018, ‘Assessing Australia’s options in the context of Brexit: engaging with the UK and the EU’, Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol 72, no 3, pp. 287-303.
- Matera, M. 2019, ‘EU-Australia security cooperation: strengthening crisis management engagement’, Global Affairs, vol. 5, no.4-5, pp. 531-537.
- Matera, M. 2018, ‘Enhanced European Union-Australia security cooperation through crisis management’, Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 224-239
Matera, M and Murray, P. 2019, ‘EU–Australia relations: recasting engagement in an era of uncertainty’, Global Affairs, vol. 5, issue 4-5, pp. 501-507. - Matera, M. and Murray, P. (eds) Special Issue: Australia and the European Union, Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol 72, no. 3, 2018.
- Matera, M. and Murray, P. 2018, ‘Australia’s relationship with the European Union: from conflict to cooperation’, Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol 72, no 3, pp. 179-193.
- Murray, P. 2019, ‘Reflections on EU–Australia engagement and prospects for the future’, Global Affairs, vol. 5, issue 4-5, pp. 509-515.
- Murray, P. 2019, ‘From Friction to Free Trade Negotiations: Australia's Engagement with the European Union’, The Australian Economic Review, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 448–454.
- Murray, P. 2018, ‘Australia’s engagement with the European Union: Partnership choices and Critical Friends’, Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol 72, no 3, pp. 208-223.
- Murray, P. and Brianson, A. 2019, ‘Rethinking Britain’s Role in a Differentiated Europe – A Comparative Regionalism Perspective on the Consequences of Brexit’, Journal of Common Market Studies, JCMS 2019 vol 57. no. 6, pp.1431–1442.
- Murray, P. and Matera, M. (eds) 2019, The Future of Australia-EU Relations: Synergies and Shared Interests, Global Affairs, vol 5, issues 4-5.
The full list is available at on the publications page.
The project team consists of Professor Philomena Murray (Jean Monnet Chair ad personam) and Dr Margherita Matera, both from the School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts at The University of Melbourne.
The project is funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme - Jean Monnet Activities (587060-EPP-1-2017-EU-EPPJMO-PROJECT) and The University of Melbourne.