The European Union (EU) and Australia have embarked officially on a free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation process, a procedure expected to last no less than 5 years. Public pronouncements from both sides which announced the beginning of the process of negotiating an FTA marked a significant departure from the well-known tensions and difficulties which date back to the late 1950s. British entry into the then European Economic Community in 1973 meant that it had to align its trade policies with the much contested European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This had been implemented in the late 1960s and provided limitless reasons for antagonism between Australia and the EU. Yet, over time, the trade agenda changed for both sides with new actors and new agreements, and some of the previous machinery no longer providing the liberalisation of trade as intended. Both the EU and Australia have moved on—some of this change due to new political actors and new economic realities. Despite the tortured history between them, and mindful that some might be sceptical about this change of heart, real politik often imposes its own political will and the new needs may well be in sharp contrast to the past relationships. The prospect of an FTA shows how the trappings of history might be side stepped by a stronger, almost opportunistic, sense of economic benefits however small they might appear.

中文翻译：

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逆势而上——欧盟和澳大利亚之间的自由贸易协定？

欧盟（EU）和澳大利亚已正式启动自由贸易协定（FTA）谈判进程，预计该程序将持续不少于5年。双方宣布开始自由贸易协定谈判进程的公开声明标志着与可追溯到 1950 年代后期的众所周知的紧张局势和困难大不相同。英国于 1973 年加入当时的欧洲经济共同体意味着它必须将其贸易政策与备受争议的欧洲共同农业政策 (CAP) 保持一致。这已在 1960 年代后期实施，并为澳大利亚和欧盟之间的对抗提供了无限的理由。然而，随着时间的推移，双方的贸易议程发生了变化，出现了新的参与者和新的协议，之前的一些机制不再像预期的那样提供贸易自由化。欧盟和澳大利亚都在前进——其中一些变化是由于新的政治参与者和新的经济现实。尽管他们之间经历了痛苦的历史，并且意识到有些人可能会对这种改变心意持怀疑态度，但真正的政治往往会强加自己的政治意愿，而新的需求很可能与过去的关系形成鲜明对比。自由贸易协定的前景表明，无论看起来多么小，更强烈的、几乎是机会主义的经济利益意识可能会如何摆脱历史的束缚。考虑到有些人可能会对这种改变心意持怀疑态度，真正的政治往往会强加自己的政治意愿，而新的需求很可能与过去的关系形成鲜明对比。自由贸易协定的前景表明，无论看起来多么小，更强烈的、几乎是机会主义的经济利益意识可能会如何摆脱历史的束缚。考虑到有些人可能会对这种改变心意持怀疑态度，真正的政治往往会强加自己的政治意愿，而新的需求很可能与过去的关系形成鲜明对比。自由贸易协定的前景表明，无论看起来多么小，更强烈的、几乎是机会主义的经济利益意识可能会如何摆脱历史的束缚。