The ministerial meeting between the EU and Australia in Brussels concluded on Friday 13 February with “significant progress”, but no conclusion yet on the relaunched negotiations on a free trade agreement (see EUROPE 13807/13).
At a standstill since 2023 due to sensitivities over agricultural products, the talks were relaunched in response to US moves to strengthen ties between the partners.
After the Mercosur countries and India, the EU was hoping to conclude negotiations on a trade agreement quickly. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will therefore not be travelling to Australia next week to give the green light.
In a joint statement, the European Commissioners for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, and Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, and the Australian Minister for Trade, Don Farrell, nevertheless referred to “constructive and positive” exchanges, which “enabled both parties to converge on a number of points”. They now have to report back to their respective governing bodies before further discussions to reconcile positions on the issue of agricultural products (meat, dairy products, sugar) and geographical indications. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)