EU's Von der Leyen to Visit Australia for FTA Finalization

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to visit Australia from March 23 to 25, aiming to finalize a long-sought free trade agreement between the European Union and Canberra after years of negotiations.

The trip, von der Leyen's first to Australia, will include meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney and Canberra, as well as discussions with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will accompany her, following recent talks between him and Farrell that both sides described as productive. The European Commission announced the visit on Wednesday, highlighting it as an opportunity to bolster ties with a like-minded partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

Negotiations for the agreement have progressed to their final stages, with officials expressing confidence in sealing the deal. Talks initially collapsed in late 2023 when Australia rejected an EU proposal for beef export quotas of 30,000 tonnes annually, deeming it insufficient compared to its request for 40,000 tonnes. Australia sought greater access for its beef and lamb exports, while the EU prioritized protections for its agricultural sector and pushed for...