Australia and EU vow to examine deeper partnership amid associate-member speculation

At a United Nations gathering, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sat down with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to discuss expanding the relationship between Australia and the European Union. The leaders reviewed the free-trade deal and security pact concluded earlier this year, and agreed to work together on critical mineral supply chains and measures to protect young people from online harms.

They underscored their alignment on key geopolitical matters, including continued backing for Ukraine, the Middle-East and Iran, as well as relations with China and the Pacific. Further talks will focus on economic security, tackling economic coercion, non-market policies and the oversight of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. The meeting comes after an EU official hinted that Australia and New Zealand might be offered an associate-member status, a model the bloc is already pursuing with Canada. While the Australian foreign minister has said one outlet relationship is "fit for purpose," Canberra’s priority remains its Pacific neighbourhood.