Australia signed the world’s largest trade agreement on 15 November with 14 other Asia-Pacific countries (see EUROPE 12602/33), and now it will discuss its relations with the EU, including the future trade partnership, in a videoconference on Thursday 26 November.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will exchange views with the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.
Negotiations for a trade agreement started in 2018 and are ongoing between the two parties. The leaders’ meeting on the 26th will above all be an opportunity to take note of the latest progress in the negotiations.
The rest of the meeting will focus on the fight against Covid-19, vaccines, and economic recovery.
According to a European source, the ambassadors of the Member States emphasised on 25 November, during the preparatory meeting, their desire to highlight the fight against global warming in discussions with Australia. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)