IEU CEPA Enters The Legal Scrubbing Stage, Implementation Targeted Early 2027

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto met with the Indonesian LBBP Ambassador to the Belgian Kingdom and the Keparyapatihan Luxembourg and the European Union (EU) Andri Hadi.

The meeting discussed the development of the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU CEPA) as well as steps to strengthen trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union.

"For Indonesia, the implementation of the IEU CEPA is expected to provide strategic benefits in the form of expanding market access for various leading export products, including palm oil, footwear, coffee, furniture, agricultural products, fisheries, and telecommunications equipment," said Airlangga in his statement, quoted Monday, November 17.

Furthermore, Ambassador Andri reported that the European Union had started the legal editing process and the translation of the IEU CEPA text.

He added that after this process is complete, the agreement will enter the official signing stage and the joint target of the two parties is that the IEU CEPA can take full effect no later than early 2027.

"EU is also an important partner in the investment sector, ranked 5th as the origin of the largest investment in Indonesia," said Andri.

The surge in investment is in line with the increasing interest of EU investors in energy transition projects, sustainable manufacturing, and the digital economy in Indonesia.

Previously, the IEU CEPA Negotiation was declared substantially complete at the Chief Negotiators meeting on September 9-12 2025, and was officially announced to the public during a meeting between the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Commissioner for Economic Trade and Security of the European Commission on September 23, 2025 in Bali.

Spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy Haryo Limanseto conveyed that in the future, the role of Indonesian Representatives in EU member countries will be increasingly strategic in supporting the preparation of the implementation of the IEU CEPA.

"The main priority includes strengthening public understanding and stakeholders of the European Union regarding Indonesia's commitments, as well as delivering opportunities for economic cooperation that can be maximized," he said.

In addition, the meeting also discussed the dynamics of economic relations between Indonesia and the European Union. In 2024, the total trade between the two parties was recorded at 30.1 billion US dollars, with a surplus for Indonesia reaching 4.5 billion US dollars, an increase of 75 percent compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's exports to the European Union grew by 4 percent, while imports decreased by around 9 percent, showing an increase in the competitiveness of Indonesian export products.