🏛️ Ursula von der Leyen plans Australia trip to clinch EU security and trade deal

Oneliner

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Australia this month to finalize a long-stalled security and trade deal. The trip follows a meeting between EU and Australian trade officials aimed at reviving negotiations that collapsed in 2023 over agricultural quotas for beef and lamb. The agreement is expected to enhance EU access to Australia's strategic mineral resources, but may face pushback due to its agricultural implications.

Key points

• Von der Leyen's visit aims to finalize a long-stalled EU-Australia security and trade agreement.
• Negotiations focus on sensitive agricultural quotas, particularly for beef and lamb.
• The trip follows a meeting between EU and Australian trade officials in Brussels.
• An agreement would enhance EU access to Australia's strategic mineral resources.

Links

• Politico: Ursula von der Leyen to travel to Australia to seal EU security, trade deal
• POLITICO Europe: Von der Leyen goes to cram school
• Euronews: Von der Leyen to travel to Australia to seal trade deal
• ANSA: Costa all'ANSA, 'nel mondo si guarda all'Europa perché è affidabile' - Altre news - Ansa.it

Facts

• Von der Leyen's trip is scheduled for February 2026, following the Munich Security Conference.
• Negotiations focus on agricultural quotas, particularly for beef and lamb.
• The EU authorized the Commission to negotiate a defense deal with Australia in December 2025.
• Australia is the world's largest producer of lithium and holds the second-largest copper reserves.

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