EU AND AUSTRALIA– GETTING CLOSER
Latest Updates
The EU and Australia agreed on a shared economic future
The EU and Australia concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in March 2026 which will deepen economic ties and create a more stable foundation for trade and investment.
Security in a Polarised and Interconnected World
The EU and Australia established a Security and Defence Partnership in 2026 which provides a structured framework for cooperation on shared security challenges.
The EU and Australia began a new partnership on Critical Raw Minerals in 2024.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to cooperate on sustainable critical and strategic minerals.
The EU and Australia coordinate to addresses disasters and emergencies globally.
Australia is a partner to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism which plays a global coordinating role to improve cooperation and facilitate preparedness in cases of humanitarian and natural disasters.
Australia participates in the EU’s Galileo and Copernicus space programs.
Cooperation in space technologies includes applications in navigation, environment, and disaster response.
How the EU became Australia’s largest wine export market
The EU and Australia signed a Wine Agreement that improved trade and protected heritage on both sides.
Australia participates in Erasmus+, the EU’s flagship education and mobility program.
Hundreds of students travel between Europe and Australia to study, teach, and conduct research.
Shared commitment to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law
The UN Charter and centrality of multilateral fora is specifically recognised in the EU-Australia Framework Agreement
The EU and Australia are working together to accelerate the global clean energy transformation
There is a shared commitment to full and timely implementation of the Paris Agreement and to cooperation, bilaterally and in all relevant multilateral fora.
Family, culture, and mobility: people are the heart of EU–Australia ties.
From dual citizenship to study exchanges, millions of Australians have direct connections with Europe.
EU and Australia: partners in science for over three decades.
The EU–Australia Science and Technology Agreement, signed in 1994, was the EU’s first treaty-level science pact with an industrialised country outside Europe.
The EU and Australia shape safer and fairer digital spaces together.
In 2024, the EU and Australia signed an administrative arrangement to align approaches on digital economy, AI, cyber security, and social media regulation.
European investment fuels Australia’s green and digital future.
The EU is Australia’s third-largest source of foreign investment, with A$786.6 billion in total stock recorded in 2023.
The EU and Australia step up cooperation on peace and security.
From joint crisis management missions to tackling cyber threats, the EU and Australia are strengthening their defence and security partnership.
Supporting Indigenous peoples at home and worldwide.
Both the EU and Australia are committed to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
EU and Australian leaders keep dialogue alive at the highest level.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last met at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada.
EU and Qantas partner to award Australia journalists
The EU and Qantas Journalist Award, in partnership with the National Press Club, has recognized excellence in Australian journalism since 1992.
Urban development is a shared challenge and opportunity across the globe
Six Australian cities and regions join the EU’s international urban and regional cooperation (IURC).
How the EU-Australia partnership can benefit the Indo-Pacific
The European Union and Indo-Pacific countries have a stake in each other’s prosperity and security.
The EU showcases Pompeii heritage at a touring photographic exhibition in Australia
Cultural heritage preservation and cultural diplomacy have been part of the EU’s foreign policy goals for nearly two decades.