The European Union and the Republic of Korea will hold their 11th summit in Brussels on 10 June 2026, with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen representing the EU, and President Lee Jae Myung representing South Korea. The summit aims to advance the strategic partnership across trade, investment, defence and security, digital technologies, energy, and research, while also addressing current geopolitical developments.
The meeting, announced in a press release by the European External Action Service on 5 June 2026, comes three years after the previous EU-Republic of Korea summit held in Seoul in 2023, which launched the EU-Republic of Korea Green Partnership. The two sides are expected to review progress since then and deepen cooperation in areas of strategic importance.
Background to the relationship The Republic of Korea has been a Strategic Partner for the EU since the 2014 Framework Agreement, with additional cooperation frameworks including the 2016 Framework Participation Agreement in EU crisis-management operations and the 2024 Security and Defence Partnership. Trade is governed by the EU-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement, in force since December 2015. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods exceeded €124 billion, making South Korea the EU's eighth-largest trading partner and the EU South Korea's third-largest. Main traded goods include machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, and other manufactured products.
Summit agenda and expectations The leaders will take stock of bilateral cooperation over the past three years and discuss ways to strengthen ties in trade, investment, defence and security, digital technologies, energy, and research. The summit also provides a platform to exchange views on geopolitical developments, reflecting the shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and open, fair trade, as stated by President Costa.
Stakeholder impacts For EU businesses, the summit may reinforce the already strong trade relationship, potentially leading to reduced barriers and new opportunities in digital and green sectors. South Korean firms, particularly in electronics, automotive, and chemicals, stand to benefit from continued market access and regulatory alignment. EU consumers could see a stable supply of imported goods such as electronics and vehicles. Defence and security cooperation may open avenues for joint projects, impacting EU and South Korean defence industries. No specific new measures or agreements have been announced ahead of the summit.
Institutional follow-up No formal decisions are expected to be taken at the summit itself, but it will set the political direction for future cooperation. The European Council and Commission will report on outcomes after the meeting. The summit reaffirms the EU's strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region, complementing other bilateral engagements with partners such as Japan, India, and ASEAN countries.
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