Joint press conference with EU High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini

FEDERICA MOGHERINI It is for once good news – signing our framework agreement that will allow us to cooperate even more than we're doing now on security and we all know how much this is needed in the world of today.

The European Union is working a lot on trying to bring stability and peace in the world. I know – we share this objective.

The signing today is something that has been worked on for a long time - for which I also have to thank all the people that have been working on this in the past. It is - I would say it's the good news of the day and sometimes we need that.

JULIE BISHOP High Representative Mogherini thank you very much for welcoming me here. Our meeting today represents a willingness on the part of Australia and the European Union to take our relationship to a new level.

We are signing today two agreements – one a Crisis Management Agreement which has already been implemented in the sense that Australia has made a first contribution to an anti-piracy mission in the Seychelles. We've deployed an Australian to the Seychelles, with the EU to work on countering piracy in the Horn of Africa.

Then we will be signing a Framework Agreement that has been negotiated at officials' level – and that has taken some time.

We are also very keen to discuss an Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, which we believe will bring economic growth, and jobs, and prosperity to the EU, which is such a significant economic power in the world, and to Australia.

I am delighted to be here because we have so many issues to discuss, but I appreciate that you have been very busy today. You have a European Council meeting tomorrow for the very serious issues that have arisen through the tragedies that we have seen in the Mediterranean recently.

But I think it's important to note that at this time Australia and the EU are standing up for the values that we share. We have stood with the EU over the sanctions regime put in place against Russia's aggression in Ukraine. We are working together to fight terrorism and counter violent extremism and the conflicts in Syria, and Iraq, and Libya. We welcome the EU's leadership in the P5+1 negotiations with Iran over the nuclear issue.

So we have many matters to discuss, many issues in common and I really do appreciate you taking the time to meet with me today.

FEDERICA MOGHERINI It's a priority…

JULIE BISHOP Federica, I'm delighted. Thank you.