After Canada, is Australia also heading toward the EU?

Australia and New Zealand could move closer to the European Union, following remarks about the possibility of associate member status.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola left open the possibility that Australia and New Zealand could be invited in the future as associated members of the European Union.

However, the Australian government has made clear that for now the focus is on finalizing the trade deal with the EU. According to Canberra, relations between Australia and the European Union are stronger than ever and the trade agreement will give Australian farmers, exporters and businesses access to the market of the EU’s 27 countries, with around 450 million consumers.

The New Zealand government has also clarified that so far there have been no discussions with the European Union about associated membership.

The remarks come just days after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened the possibility that Canada could become an associated member of the EU. The idea aims to strengthen ties with countries outside the union without making them full members.

Meanwhile, the trade agreement between Australia and the European Union has been negotiated and concluded, but still has to go through the ratification process. The agreement also provides for quotas for sensitive products, including around 30,000 tons of beef and 25,000 tons of sheep meat from Australia each year.

These quotas have sparked debate between European farmers and the Australian meat sector. Farmers in the EU worry that additional imports could increase competition in the European market, while the Australian industry had sought a higher quota for meat exports.

Australia is currently the world’s second-largest exporter of beef, after Brazil. Meanwhile, trade relations between Canberra and Brussels remain at the center of discussions on strengthening economic cooperation.