European Union President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Sydney on March 23 for a high-stakes three-day visit aimed at thrashed-out the final details of a long-awaited free-trade agreement.
The visit, which includes a historic address to federal parliament by the first female foreign leader, is widely expected to culminate in the signing of the deal alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Negotiations, which have been stalled for years, recently gained momentum following significant progress on the contentious issue of geographical indications for products such as wine and cheese.
Beyond trade, the leaders are set to discuss Australia’s pioneering social media age limits, a policy currently being weighed by several European nations.
Formal talks between Trade Minister Don Farrell and his EU counterpart, Maros Šefčovič, will commence today to resolve any remaining friction.