The European Union and Australia have announced the adoption of an unprecedented security and defense partnership. They have also concluded negotiations on an ambitious and balanced free trade agreement (FTA), and have agreed to launch formal negotiations for Australia’s association with Horizon Europe, the world’s largest funding program for research and innovation. Through these advancements, the EU and Australia achieve mutually beneficial results and further strengthen their already close relations in a context of geopolitical uncertainty.
The final text of the agreement was agreed upon at a meeting of leaders in Canberra between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The security and defense partnership was virtually signed on 18 March 2026 by High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas, Vice Prime Minister and Australian Defense Minister Richard Donald Marles, and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.
President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Albanese issued a joint statement.
More information is available online in the press release and the FAQ sheet.
