By JOHN ARMSTRONG
Buoyed by the response to his Speaker's tour of European capitals, Jonathan Hunt believes it is essential a delegation of New Zealand MPs visits the soon-to-be expanded European Union every year from now on.
Membership of the trading bloc will number 25 countries by 2004, he says, and it is vital that New Zealand make efforts to strengthen political links with such a powerful grouping.
"They recognise we are a democratic and progressive country like most of Europe. And they are pretty sympathetic to us."
Mr Hunt and four other MPs have been in Spain, France and Britain for the past eight days on the annual Speaker's tour.
Mr Hunt was criticised last year over a $150,000, three-week, so-called "tango tour" of South America for five MPs, for which no itinerary was obtainable beforehand.
He has been accompanied this time by Labour junior whip Jill Pettis, National junior whip Lindsay Tisch, Green MP Sue Kedgley and United Future MP Bernie Ogilvy. The budget for the trip is around $100,000.
Speaking from Strasbourg, Mr Hunt said a highlight among a string of appointments with politicians and officials had been a meeting with the president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox.
"That appointment was quite a coup. He was down to give us 10 minutes and gave us 40."
Mr Hunt relayed New Zealand's concern that the integration of 10 new member states not delay the shift towards a more market-oriented, less trade-distorting common agricultural policy.
EU leaders have agreed to cap agricultural spending after 2006, but are delaying tough reforms sought by Britain and other supporters of radical farm subsidy cuts.
The delegation also asked questions on food safety, terrorism and human rights.
The members also invited Mr Cox and a delegation of European Parliament MPs to visit New Zealand.
In Spain, the delegation had meetings with senior Spanish MPs plus foreign affairs ministers.
"All members of this delegation have attended all the meetings they have to attend," Mr Hunt added, referring to National MP Richard Worth's absence last week from an El Alamein commemoration service to go sightseeing in Cairo.
Hunt calls for regular EU visits
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