Ursula von der Leyen to journey to Australia to seal EU safety, commerce deal – POLITICO

The quotas are nonetheless being negotiated between Canberra and Brussels, the primary individual conversant in the talks mentioned.

Von der Leyen will take the 20-hour-plus flight to Australia immediately after she attends the Munich Security Conference, which takes place within the German metropolis on Feb. 13-15, in line with Australian digital newspaper The Nightly, which broke the information of the Commission chief’s four-day journey.

EU nations final December allowed the Commission to barter a protection cope with Australia. Sealing such a deal would come on the heels of safety and protection partnerships signed with the U.Ok., Canada and most just lately India.

An settlement with Australia would signify a win for the EU, as it could open entry to the nation’s huge reserves of strategic minerals. Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium and likewise holds the world’s second-largest copper reserves.

Coming after the EU’s fraught Mercosur cope with South American nations — criticized by farmers, France and skeptical lawmakers — the pact with Canberra is anticipated to additionally set off pushback as a consequence of its important agricultural element.