Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has taken a shot at European leaders' economic competence on the eve of his visit to Europe and Africa.
Mr Rudd leaves on Wednesday for the Australia-UK strategic ministerial talks (AUKMIN) in London.
But while in Europe, Mr Rudd will also visit France, Germany and the headquarters of the EU in Brussels to discuss the European economic crisis and its implications for Australia.
"The continued drift in the eurozone is eroding global growth prospects and affecting the supply of credit worldwide, constraining business investment and potentially affecting interest rates in Australia," Mr Rudd said in a statement.
In France, Mr Rudd will discuss developments in the Pacific and the Middle East, as well as economic issues, with Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.
Mr Rudd and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will launch a program of activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Australian-German diplomatic relations.
The foreign minister has been invited to address the North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal decision-making body, in Brussels on security challenges posed by Asia's rise and the future of Afghanistan.
He will represent Australia at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which will include talks on the global economy, the European debt crisis and growth in Asia.
On January 26, Mr Rudd will be in Ethiopia to attend the African Union executive council meeting.
