Brussels, July 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), marking a significant milestone after ten years of intense dialogue.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference in Brussels on Sunday, signaling a new chapter in bilateral trade and economic relations between Indonesia and the European Union.
“Today, we have achieved a breakthrough,” President Prabowo declared. “After 10 years of negotiations, we have concluded a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, which basically is a free trade agreement.” He emphasized that both parties had reached full consensus on all provisions of the agreement. “Basically, there are no items of disagreement between the EU and Indonesia,” he stated, expressing deep appreciation for the successful conclusion.
President Prabowo underscored the significance of the agreement amid global uncertainties. “In this era of instability or confusion, I think we set the right example,” he remarked, adding his hope that the formal CEPA implementation document would be signed in the near future.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the conclusion of the talks and lauded President Prabowo’s role in driving the agreement forward. “Mr. President, I want to thank you for your leadership. Together, we are sending a strong message about the importance of predictable long-term partnerships,” she said.
Von der Leyen highlighted Indonesia’s strategic importance as a key supplier of essential goods to Europe and noted that Indonesia is the European Union’s fifth-largest recipient of foreign direct investment and fifth-largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. She expressed confidence that the agreement would unlock new markets and opportunities for both sides, stating that the CEPA comes at the right time to fully realize the untapped potential in bilateral trade.
President Prabowo’s visit to Brussels also includes high-level meetings with European Council President Antonio Costa and King Philippe of Belgium, further underscoring the deepening ties between Indonesia and the European Union.
