's relationship with Europe is a consequence of the historical connections generated by colonialism and mass European immigration to Australia. There has been speculation about possible first sightings of Australia by Portugal and Spain. However, the first documented European sightings and landings occurred since March 1606 by Holland. Likewise, it would later be explored and conquered between the 18th and 19th centuries by the British Empire.
Trade
is Australia's second largest trading partner, after China, and Australia is the EU's 18th. Australia's exports are dominated by mineral and agricultural goods, while 37% of trade is in commercial services, especially transportation and travel. EU corporations have a strong presence in Australia with an estimated turnover of €200 bn. These companies directly created 500,000 jobs in Australia. The EU is Australia's second largest destination of overseas investment and the EU is by far Australia's largest source of foreign investment €2.8 billion in 2009. Trade was growing but ebbed in 2009 due to the global financial crisis. In August 2019, Australian Senator Simon Birmingham, released a list of names that the EU wants to protect as a part of its new trade deal. The list of proposed names included beers, spirits and cheese and meats, which as per EU is aimed at protecting the identity of European products from non-European products. This concept of segregation is known as “geographical indications” or Gis, which will change the name of commodity in regards to the country of its origin.
Although Oceania and Europe are antipodes, being also separated by different hemispheres, after the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, it was proposed that Australia could join the European Union. Proponents argue that the cultural and political values of Australians and Europeans have much in common unlike the rest of the Oceanian countries, even more than New Zealand, and that Australian membership would serve as a bridge between Antarctica and Asia for the EU. Furthermore, EU membership would avoid influences from Asian countries in Australia, especially China.
