The European Union has raised the prospect of a safety pact with Australia as Anthony Albanese met with world leaders in Rome, together with a quick dialog with Pope Leo XIV following the pontiff’s inauguration mass.
The prime minister met with European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen in a single day within the Italian capital to debate the “constructive relationship” Australia can play in “right this moment’s unsure world”.
Briefly remarks earlier than the assembly, Von der Leyen signalled the EU want to “broaden this strategic partnership”, together with on defence and safety issues.
“We’re predictable, we share the identical values as you simply mentioned. So we will provide to one another stability and we’re very grateful for that. And that is the explanation additionally that we don’t solely see you as a buying and selling companion, however we see you as a strategic companion, and we’d very very similar to to broaden this strategic partnership,” she mentioned.
“We might be more than happy if we may develop such a safety and defence partnership too, simply to broaden the strategic partnership in lots of matters that we now have in widespread.”
Albanese appeared cautious however indicated he was open to contemplating the proposal, which could contain future navy workout routines and different cooperation in areas of mutual curiosity.
“We mentioned that we have been definitely concerned with any additional engagement of assist. However it’s very early levels at this level,” he mentioned shortly after the assembly.
“So we should always think about that future discussions might happen both at Nato or on a bilateral foundation between Australia and the European Union.”
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Albanese reaffirmed Australia’s assist for Ukraine towards Russian aggression in a separate sideline assembly with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterating his consideration for sending peacekeeping troops as a part of a coalition of the keen “if a peace course of emerges”.
Albanese met with different world leaders, together with the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who had converged in Rome for the brand new pope’s inauguration mass within the Vatican.
The prime minister mentioned he had not organized for a gathering with US vp JD Vance, who Albanese mentioned arrived “fairly late” to the mass.
Albanese earlier spoke to Pope Leo XIV about his mom, after being ushered into St Peter’s Basilica in Rome following the Catholic chief’s inauguration mass.
“I spoke to him about my mom who could be, I’m certain, trying down from Heaven with the most important smile she’s each had,” the prime minister advised reporters on the Vatican on Sunday.
Albanese, who was raised Catholic in a housing fee flat in Sydney, usually references his single-parent mom and her affect on his life.
Australia has been pursuing a free-trade settlement with the EU, which is but to be settled.
Federal frontbencher Tanya Plibersek agreed there had been a number of “sticking factors”.
“There’s a few thousand names that the European Union desires to limit the usage of, and they’re parmesan, fetta, prosecco, an entire lot of names of meals which are associated to the place the place they arrive from,” she advised Seven’s Dawn program.
“However we’d say that the parmesan made in Australia is world’s greatest and we need to ensure that any free-trade settlement with the European Union is a transparent benefit for Australia.
“We’ll proceed to work by it.”
A commerce settlement with the EU would open up a marketplace for Australian items and providers to greater than 400 million folks.
As a bloc, the EU was Australia’s third-largest two-way buying and selling companion in 2022/2023. It’s additionally the sixth-largest export vacation spot and the third-largest providers export market.
Two-way commerce is valued at round $110bn.
