Cracking the Egg

Prime Minister Bill English was late for his first meeting on European soil after his travel plans were delayed by snow in Frankfurt. That meant he had to make the last leg by train instead of plane.

He went straight from the train station to his meeting with European Council president Donald Tusk.

His suit was rather crumpled after the travel but English managed to arrive with a smile and Tusk was heard to commiserate with him about leaving a New Zealand summer to the trials of a European winter.

Several Brussels-based media were also there, although the attraction for some was the venue for the press conference rather than English.

English took line honours as the first leader to have a press conference in the new Europa Building, dubbed the “Egg” — a huge egg-shaped structure that holds the press conference room.

The new home for the European Council has just opened this week. The $485 million project was controversial and was criticised by former British PM David Cameron in 2011 as a “gilded cage” because of the cost when many EU member states were struggling to recover from the global financial crisis.

Cameron was under pressure over the cost to Britain of belonging to the European Union.

While Juncker said he believed a trade deal was possible in 2-3 years — much less than the 6-10 years it has taken others, English was more realistic, saying many of the same obstacles New Zealand had faced in the past still had to be addressed, including sensitivities over agriculture.

English’s focus switched to security yesterday evening ahead of his meeting with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. English said most of New Zealand’s contribution to security was done through Nato and those

This makes it clear that one of the largest economies in the world is interested in doing free trade deals and keen to do one with New Zealand. Bill English, Prime Minister

talks would look at what the country’s ongoing role could be.

There was less chance of an attack in New Zealand than Europe but there was always a risk New Zealanders would get caught up in attacks overseas.

“The risk in New Zealand is moderate but . . . co-operation with other countries is an important part of keeping risk in New Zealand [low].”

He said New Zealand had boosted its investment in keeping tabs on New Zealanders with links to Islamic State.

Picture / Claire Trevett Bill English yesterday met with European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels where both expressed optimism a free trade deal between the EU and New Zealand would proceed.