A-EU FTA Next Steps

1. Conclusion

Negotiations have now finished, and the draft text of the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) will be published shortly.

2. Finalising agreement text

The draft text will undergo legal checks and be translated into the 24 official languages of the EU.

After this, the European Commission will submit the A-EU FTA to the European Council for approval by qualified majority.

Australia will undertake domestic processes required for signature, such as approval from the Federal Executive Council.

3. Signature

This is expected to occur in late 2026 or early 2027, once both sides have completed their processes required for signature.

4. Parliamentary processes

After signature by both parties, Australia and the EU will need to complete further domestic legal and parliamentary processes, which are expected to take up to another year.

For Australia, this involves scrutiny by Parliament through the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) and consideration of any domestic legislation.

The EU will seek the consent of the European Parliament to ratify the agreement.

5. Entry into force

Once all domestic processes are finished, the agreement will enter into force, and Australians will be able to benefit from the A-EU FTA.

More information on this process can be found on Australia’s treaty-making process.

More information on the A-EU FTA can be found in key outcome and benefits.