Abstract
The relationship between Australia, the European Union and member states of the European Union have a long history based on shared values, democratic political systems, and a strong foundation in the rule of law. Historically, the ties to the United Kingdom have been and remain special, not least because Australia was and, albeit to a much lesser degree, can still be understood as a (now) fully sovereign partial reflection of the UK in the southern hemisphere, which whom it shares a language, a legal history based on the common law, a colonial past and, not least, a head of state. But there are close ties with other countries as well. France is a power with substantial interests in the greater area around Australia. France is also a close strategic security partner. The relationship with the EU has been problematic in the past because of profound differences of opinion concerning agriculture. UK membership in the EU initially jeopardized Australia’s trade relationship with the UK. Brexit is seen to create new opportunities albeit at a much smaller scale than the concerns raised by the UK’s joining the EEC/EU. Relative to Australia’s primary natural resources of iron ore and coal and relative to the growth of China as a market for Australia’s natural resources, including agricultural products, the UK, and the EU, play a significantly smaller role today. This paper attempts to present an overview of the various bi- and multilateral relationships that are the foundation for the envisaged AU-EU FTA.