Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said next Tuesday will be “a good day in the interests of Australia”, as European Union President Ursula von der Leyen visits Canberra, where the two leaders are expected to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement.
Trade Minister Don Farrell this week said the deal would boost Australia’s trade by approximately $10 billion in the first year, and more in subsequent years, and that there were a few more details to negotiate before the deal could be inked.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia next week.AP
Albanese also announced that von der Leyen would address a joint sitting of parliament, the second address this month following a speech from the Canadian prime minister on March 5. She will be the first female leader to address a joint sitting of parliament in Australia.
“We are analysing trade negotiations at the moment, and with the uncertainty that’s there in the global community, it says a lot that just a couple of weeks ago, we had the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Now we’ll have the leader of Europe, Ursula von der Leyen, addressing a joint sitting of parliament,” Albanese said.
“I very much look forward to meeting with Ursula von der Leyen. We have a great relationship, and next Tuesday will be a good day in the interests of Australia, but also in the interests of our friends in Europe.”