EU President Ursula von der Leyen and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement. Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will soon visit the UAE to take the talks forward.
"This marks a positive step forward in EU–UAE relations and, alongside the negotiation of broader Strategic Partnership Agreements, can serve as a catalyst for stronger ties between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," - EU statement reads.
President von der Leyen emphasised the European Union's strong track record of delivering high-standard trade agreements and building partnerships based on open trade and mutual benefit.
"The UAE shares strong and longstanding ties with the European Union and its member states, and today we agreed to launch negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. Through this agreement, we aim to deepen bilateral relations and promote economic growth for the benefit of our countries and peoples," - UAE President stated via platform X.
The upcoming negotiations will focus on liberalising trade in goods, services, and investment, while deepening cooperation in strategic sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials.
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