Continuous and wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders both in New Zealand and the EU ensured a high degree of the SIA’s transparency, as well as enrich the analysis with information “from the ground”, and provide feedback on draft results. The main channels for communication and consultation – apart from this website – were:

  • Interviews and surveys, including online surveys, with key stakeholders; and
  • Civil society dialogue meetings in the EU.

A range of interviews and one-to-one meetings with private sector and civil society organisations and other key stakeholders took place both in the EU and New Zealand.

In addition, two online surveys targeting different groups of respondents were open from May to 15 July 2019:

  • A general survey inviting views of citizens, organisations (including business organisations) and public authorities
  • A survey for businesses (regardless of their size)

Both surveys aimed at collecting stakeholder views in a comprehensive way, asking about the potential economic, social, human rights and environmental effects of the FTA, including those for consumers. The business survey furthermore addressed the potential effects of the agreement on companies, in particular SMEs.

Civil society dialogue (CSD) meetings organised by DG Trade are regular meetings where civil society and the Commission discuss about the EU’s trade policy. Two such meetings took place in relation to the SIA:

For further details, please consult DG Trade’s CSD website.