Draft:Delegation of the European Union to Australia

The current EU Delegation building in Yarralumla, Canberra.

The Delegation of the European Union to Australia represents the European Union (EU) in Australia, working in coordination with the diplomatic and consular missions of all the EU Member States. 25 out of 27 Member States have their diplomatic representation in Canberra, all except Luxembourg and Slovakia. It is located at 18 Arkana Street, in the Yarralumla neighbourhood of Canberra, the capital of Australia.

Since 2022, the Ambassador of the EU to Australia is H.E. Gabriele Visentin.

Role

The EU Delegation in Canberra represents and promotes the interests and values of the EU in Australia, promoting EU-Australia cooperation in all fields. The EU Delegation presents and explains EU policy to both the Australian government and think tanks, such as the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). The Delegation also analyses and reports on the political, social, and economic situation in Australia, and acts as a liaison with other international organisations across Australia. Through its engagement with political actors, the media, academia, business circles, and civil society, the Delegation raises awareness of EU issues and concerns, and promotes the EU-Australia relationship among the broader Australian public.

The Delegation represents the EU in matters where the Member States have agreed that their interests be represented collectively – for example, in areas of customs and trade. In contrast, the Embassy of each EU Member State represents the bilateral interests of that nation in its dealings with Australian government, and in areas that are not under specific EU jurisdiction. All consular affairs are dealt with by individual Member States. However, the EU Delegation acts as a coordinator when it comes to knowledge exchange and crisis response, and organises regular Local Consular and Schengen meetings. The Delegation also manages the sponsorship of the European Union Centres of Excellence, a network of university programs dedicated to the study of the EU.

History

Sir Edwin McCarthy, Australian public servant, trade negotiator and diplomat, took up his position as the first Australian Ambassador to the European Economic Community (EEC) in March 1962. It was not until 1981 that the EEC established diplomatic representation in Australia, working out of an office in Manuka, a neighbourhood of Canberra. Since 1988, the EEC (and its successor organization the European Union, formally established in 1993) has had a permanent presence in Canberra with a Delegation in the Yarralumla neighbourhood. Back then, it served as the European Commission Delegation to Australia and New Zealand. In 2004, the European Commission (EC) opened a delegation in Wellington, New Zealand, thus separating its responsibilities from those of the Delegation in Australia. On January 1^st, 2011, the Delegation became the European Union Delegation to Australia, as the European External Action Service (EEAS) officially replaced the European Commission as the body responsible for the EU’s foreign diplomacy.

Staff

Ambassador Gabriele Visentin is the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Australia. In this capacity, he represents European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council António Costa, under the authority of the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. As of 2024, the Delegation has approximately 20 permanent staff members, including 5 officials.

Embassy Sections

Head/Deputy Head of Delegation

Serves as official representative of the EU to Australia.

Political, Press, and Information

On the political front, the Politcal, Press and Information (PPI) section acts as the primary point of contact for Australian actors and stakeholders wishing to engage with the EU. It also monitors and analyses developments in Australia’s domestic and foreign policies, with a focus on areas of shared interest such as climate action, trade, defence, human rights, and security. The PPI section supports joint EU-Australia efforts to address global challenges and promote EU-Australia policy alignment.

The section is also responsible for the EU’s local public diplomacy. Strategic communication campaigns, media outreach, and the organization of events such as cultural programs underpin the public diplomacy work of the PPI section. Through these efforts, the section highlights the EU’s contributions to global and regional affairs. It also maintains contact with Australian media outlets and academia, and provides them with information and analyses of EU developments, positions, and statistics.

Lastly, the PPI section also supports administrative upkeep, producing and distributing information materials, maintaining the Delegation's website, and dealing with public inquiries.

Trade

The Trade section of the EU Delegation to Australia is responsible for advancing the economic relationship between the EU and Australia. It oversees bilateral trade and investment ties, monitors and assesses Australia’s economic performance, and analyses domestic trends and policies of interest to the EU’s economy. Through trade missions, business forums, and networking events for European and Australian business, the Trade section promotes the EU as an economic partner, maintaining relations with the Australian government, chambers of commerce, and other stakeholders like the European Australian Business Council.

Within international multilateral fora, the Trade section is responsible for corresponding with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the OECD in areas of interest to the EU and Australia.

Until 2023, one of its primary foci were the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Australia, which had begun on June 2018. However, these collapsed in October 2023 due to disagreements over agriculture and protected designation of origin (PDO) polcies.

Administration

The Administration Section provides key support services for the Delegation staff, building and residences. It also consults with authorities in the EEAS and Australia on all protocol and administrative matters related to EU officials.

List of Ambassadors

• Gabriele Visentin (2022-current)
• Michael Pulch (2017-2022)
• Sem Fabrizi (2013-2017)
• David Daly (2009-2013)
• Bruno Julien (2005-2008)
• Piergiorgio Mazzocchi (2002-2005)
• Aneurin Hughes (1995-2002)
• Dietrich Hammer (1992-1995)
• Ove Juul Jorgensen (1986-1992)
• Kaj Barlebo-Larsen (1981-1985)

See also

• Australia-EU Relations
• European Union Ambassador
• List of diplomatic missions of the European Union
• European External Action Service
• European Australians