Seán Kelly: Why the EU-Australia FTA Must Be Ratified Now
MEP Seán Kelly reflects on inter-parliamentary meetings with Australia (December 2024 and October 2025) and makes the case for swift ratification and implementation of the EU-Australia free trade agreement to strengthen trade, sustainability and political cooperation.
Seán Kelly outlines a programme of inter-parliamentary contacts, preparatory and follow-up meetings, and visits involving Australian counterparts and the European-Australia Business Council in Brussels and Canberra. He notes high-level exchanges, including meetings with Commissioner Sefcovic and Australia’s Minister Don Farrell.
Kelly summarises that the free trade agreement - meticulously negotiated and concluded by both sides - addresses geographical indications, rules of origin, market access, and sustainable development and climate provisions. He acknowledges previous speakers who detailed these elements and congratulates those involved in securing the deal.
From the delegation’s perspective, Kelly emphasises that parliamentarians served as a bridge between businesses, universities, trade unions and think tanks and the negotiators. He calls for active work to ensure ratification and successful implementation, agreeing with colleague Joachim Warburton that speed is important.
Kelly argues the FTA is not an end in itself but an instrument to create prosperity and trust. In a period of disruption to multilateralism, he frames the agreement as a building block for deeper political cooperation, people-to-people links and an alliance of democracies that uphold international rule of law.
Meetings and engagement
Seán Kelly outlines a programme of inter-parliamentary contacts, preparatory and follow-up meetings, and visits involving Australian counterparts and the European-Australia Business Council in Brussels and Canberra. He notes high-level exchanges, including meetings with Commissioner Sefcovic and Australia’s Minister Don Farrell.
What the agreement covers
Kelly summarises that the free trade agreement - meticulously negotiated and concluded by both sides - addresses geographical indications, rules of origin, market access, and sustainable development and climate provisions. He acknowledges previous speakers who detailed these elements and congratulates those involved in securing the deal.
Parliamentary role and implementation
From the delegation’s perspective, Kelly emphasises that parliamentarians served as a bridge between businesses, universities, trade unions and think tanks and the negotiators. He calls for active work to ensure ratification and successful implementation, agreeing with colleague Joachim Warburton that speed is important.
Strategic significance
Kelly argues the FTA is not an end in itself but an instrument to create prosperity and trust. In a period of disruption to multilateralism, he frames the agreement as a building block for deeper political cooperation, people-to-people links and an alliance of democracies that uphold international rule of law.
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Transcript
Thank you very much Mr. Chair and as a delegation for Australia and New Zealand we held inter-parliamentary meetings with our colleagues from Australia in December 2024 and October 2025. Moreover, we've had a number of preparatory and follow-up meetings, hosted high-level visitors from Australia, some more here today we welcome them, and have engaged with the European-Australia Business Council, both here in Brussels and in Canberra. Although the agenda with such important a partner as Australia is always broad and includes issues like connectivity, relations with China, security, Russian aggression to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, scientific and education cooperation and much more, a positive outcome of the free trade agreement has always been the main topic and the cornerstone of our relations. The agreement was supported by both sides meticulously negotiated and finally concluded and congrats to all involved. Previous speakers have touched upon a number of the achievements of the deal, protection of geographical indications, rules of origin, market access and sustainable development and climate provisions among others. From the perspective of our delegation, the key issue is that Australia is as much a pillar of international trade as the EU is, with transparent and stable rules and emphasis on sustainability and innovation, deeply beneficial for our societies. As parliamentarians we played a crucial role by advocating the benefits of a fair agreement for our societies and being a bridge to connect our businesses, universities, trade unions and think tanks to the dynamic of the negotiations. Now it is our role to do what we can to make the ratification and implementation process a success and I agree with my colleague Joachim Warburton, the sooner we can do that the better. A free trade agreement is not a goal per se, but an instrument to create prosperity and trust. With the current disruption of world order and multilateralism, our duty is now to bring about a deeper political cooperation and people-to-people contact with like-minded partners. This free trade agreement can be a key element in shaping an alliance of democracies that respect international rule of law, who consider their allies before acting purely for their own benefit and to restore faith in a world order. So thanks to everybody, the President of the Commission, Prime Minister of Australia, especially Commissioner Sefcovic and also Minister Don Farrell from Australia whom we met on a number of occasions and I'm pleased to say he's very proud of his Irish ancestry. So good news all around. Thank you very much.