EU and UAE agree to open free trade talks
The European Union (EU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to start Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC) has welcomed this move
In a phone call, President von der Leyen held and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement. This is a positive step forward in EU-UAE relations, according to the European Commission, which underlined that it can be a catalyst for stronger ties between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The forthcoming negotiations will focus on liberalising trade in goods, services, and investment, while deepening cooperation in strategic sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials.
The European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC) welcomed the move, saying that footwear exports to the UAE were worth more than 563 million euros in 2024. “This is a great opportunity for EU footwear producers to gain greater access to markets and strengthen ties in the Gulf!”, CEC stated in a LinkedIn post.
President von der Leyen expressed her confidence that both sides can move quickly and ambitiously. Commissioner Maroš Sefcovic will return to the UAE to take the talks forward.
Image Credits: CEC LinkedIn
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