Albanese confirms EU chief’s visit, trade deal to be signed
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The news: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Australia next week and is set to ink an elusive free trade agreement.
The context: In a statement confirming reports von der Leyen was set to visit Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed he will welcome her on Monday as part of a three-day trip.
The pair will meet in Canberra on Tuesday.
Capital Brief revealed in January that the EU had reached out to Canberra to revive trade talks, which collapsed in 2023 after major disagreements over market access and Australian producers using geographical indicators like ‘feta’ and ‘prosecco’.
Australia has demanded its red meat producers be granted significant access to Europe’s market of 450 million people, a demand that chafed against the more protectionist EU members.
While no agreement has formally been announced, von der Leyen’s imminent trip is all but confirmation of a deal, given EU leaders do not travel without one in place.
Albanese said he looked forward to “continuing discussions to further expand our cooperation” when von der Leyen is in Australia.
Since the 2023 breakdown, Trade Minister Don Farrell has held numerous conversations with his EU counterpart Maroš Šefčovič, including three days of talks in Brussels last month.
After that trip, Farrell declared his confidence the deal would be struck.
That was followed by positive noises from Europe this week, with von der Leyen describing talks as in the “home stretch”.
What they said: “Australia and Europe are friends and partners, working together to advance peace, security and economic prosperity,” Albanese said in his statement.
“The visit to Australia by President von der Leyen is an important opportunity to continue that work.”
The source: Anthony Albanese statement
