European Union and Australia Trade Relations and Ambitious Negotiations: Implications for Security Concerns in the Indo-Pacific Centre of Excellence

With recent geopolitical shifts, the international economic order is undergoing significant change – severely challenging trade negotiations. As a result, the EU finds itself in a period of increasing global uncertainty, where trade is not only based on economics, but also trying to balance security, foreign alliances and internal cohesion challenges

The project will assess the EU Trade Policy's potential to address emerging security issues, develop a framework for 'ambitious' trade agreements in the current geopolitical climate, and examine the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy as a framework for addressing regional security concerns with partners like Australia. Drawing on the EU's broader experience in trade negotiations, particularly with ASEAN and other Indo-Pacific actors, the study will analyze the progress made in negotiations thus far. The new knowledge generated by the EUATRAN Centre of Excellence will contribute to both EU and Australian Trade Policy development and promote an approach to trade negotiations with a wider network of prospective partners, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. This will be of benefit to European citizens both domestically and in foreign markets, and to companies and citizens in third countries. 

2024-2027

• To promote deeper understanding of how an 'ambitious' trade agenda, such as that pursued by the EU and Australia, can contribute to a stronger security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.  
• To assess whether the EU Trade Policy can contribute to addressing a range of emerging security issues. 
• To develop, from the EU-Australian experience, a clear framework for determining the scope and character of an 'ambitious' trade agreement, in the current geopolitical environment. 
• To examine whether the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy provides an appropriate framework for the EU to work with partners such as Australia in addressing security concerns in the Indo-Pacific. 

This research project aims to answer the following main research questions: 

• What have been the key moments in the evolution of EU Trade Policy between 1995 and 2025? 
• What is the scope of an 'ambitious' trade agreement? What are the preconditions that need to be satisfied in order for such an agreement to be achieved? 
• How has current global insecurity affected the EU's pursuit of economic as well as geopolitical interests in the Indo-Pacific region? 
• Is there evidence to indicate that bilateral trade agreements, ambitious or otherwise, contribute to reducing potential security issues in the Indo-Pacific? 
• Does the EU experience in negotiations with Australia have any specific implications for further amending EU Trade Policy? 

The Chief Investigators on this project include Associate Professor Julian Lee, Dr Kaye Quek, Professor Bruno Mascitelli and Professor Bruce Wilson. 

Other researchers and stakeholders in Australia, the EU and the Indo-Pacific will be invited to participate in the research activities, in seminars and roundtables. Across three years, the Centre of Excellence will publish working papers, policy briefs and research reports.