UAE, EU agree to launch trade deal negotiations

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, agreed during a phone call on Thursday to launch negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and European Union.

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During the call, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the depth of relations between the UAE and EU while highlighting their joint commitment to strengthening these ties to serve mutual interests, particularly in the economic sphere.

Sheikh Mohamed noted that the decision to initiate negotiations on a CEPA with the EU reflects a shared determination to unlock the full potential of cooperation and advance their economic, trade, and investment ties in support of development aims.

Sheikh Mohamed added that, once concluded, the CEPA would create new avenues for cooperation between the UAE and EU, increase trade and investment flows, and strengthen partnerships between the business communities of both sides.

He emphasised that UAE-EU relations are founded on a common vision of stability, growth, and prosperity.

For her part, Ursula von der Leyen underscored the strength of ties between the UAE and EU, noting that the launch of CEPA negotiations marks a step towards a more dynamic and robust phase in their economic cooperation.