Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the free trade agreement between the EU and Turkiye. [21792/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Currently, there is no Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Türkiye. The EU-Türkiye Customs Union, however, has enabled bilateral trade to increase significantly, reaching a record high of almost €206 billion in 2023, making Türkiye the EU’s 5th largest trade partner in that year. Goods may travel between the two entities without any customs restrictions. The Customs Union does not cover essential economic areas such as agriculture (to which bilateral trade concessions apply), services or public procurement.

The latest EU-Türkiye High-Level Trade Working Group took place in Istanbul on 11 March 2025. This was the third meeting of the group which was established with the aim of facilitating easier trade and delivering positive results for businesses and industry. At the meeting it was recognised that given the current international trading environment there was a shared impetus to move the relationship forward.

The next meeting of the group is scheduled to take place in June, with Commissioner Maros Sefcovic co-chairing.

Ireland supports a close and mutually beneficial economic relationship between the EU and Türkiye. The Irish economy has achieved significant levels of development due to our open trade and investment model. This has presented our indigenous businesses, including the agrifood sector, access to international markets. EU Free Trade Agreements have given Irish businesses preferential access to trade in markets in our countries such as Canada, Japan, Korea, Chile and New Zealand. However, the Government is also conscious of the need to ensure that trade is conducted on a fair and reciprocal basis.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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164. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the free trade agreement between the EU and United Arab Emirates. [21794/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains committed to free, fair and open trade while protecting Ireland’s interests in international trade deals. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and supporting better environmental and human rights standards around the world.

On the 10th of April 2025, Commission President von der Leyen announced that the EU had agreed to open negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a Free Trade Agreement. It is intended that this will be negotiated alongside a Strategic Partnership Agreement. For Ireland, delivering a modern and ambitious Free Trade Agreement will not only reinforce EU and Irish relations with the UAE, but also support the goal of market diversification via an expanded set of EU Free Trade Agreements.

I wish to assure the Deputy that both my officials and I will engage actively as these negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the UAE progress.