Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, on behalf of the European Commission, has defended the recently concluded EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement as a balanced outcome for the EU's agricultural sector, particularly for sensitive livestock products. In a written answer to a parliamentary question from MEP Gilles Pennelle and eight other members of the Patriots for Europe group, Šefčovič stressed that the market opening for beef and sheep meat is very limited and phased in over several years, with safeguards to protect EU producers.
The question, submitted on 23 February 2026, asked for an update on negotiations and an impact assessment on EU livestock farming. The MEPs noted that in 2018, Australia had sought to double proposed quotas of 24,000 tonnes of beef and 20,000 tonnes of sheep meat, contributing to the failure of the earlier talks. They also recalled that in June 2025 the Commission announced it wished to reopen talks.
Šefčovič confirmed that following the Australian elections in May 2025, President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Albanese agreed to resume stock-taking discussions. After technical meetings and political engagement in Brussels, negotiations were concluded on 24 March 2026 during the President's visit to Australia. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission had been clear with Australia that the EU's agricultural sensitivities have heightened since 2023.
The final agreement includes a quota of 30,600 tonnes for beef (0.5% of EU consumption) phased in over 10 years, and 25,000 tonnes for sheep meat (4% of EU consumption) phased in over 7 years. A bilateral safeguard clause covers the most sensitive agricultural products to address unexpected market disturbances. The Commission also pointed to a 2024 study on the cumulative economic impact of trade agreements on EU agriculture as the basis for its impact assessment.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up The answer signals a clear policy direction: the Commission prioritises concluding trade deals while protecting sensitive sectors through limited, phased openings and safeguards. The agreement balances EU agricultural sensitivities with Australia's offensive interests in red meat, and offers new export opportunities for EU products and geographical indications. No further institutional follow-up is specified, but the agreement now awaits ratification by the European Parliament and the Council. The impact on EU livestock producers is expected to be minor given the small quotas relative to consumption, though the phased nature and safeguard clause provide additional reassurance. For Australian exporters, the deal opens a new, albeit limited, market access. EU consumers may see slightly more choice, while EU farmers in the beef and sheep sectors face minimal additional competition. The overall importance of this development is moderate, as it concludes a long-negotiated agreement with limited market impact.
← Atlas › News › Agri-food