European Parliament Visits Coordinating Minister Airlangga In Jakarta, Lobbying Palm Oil Issues?

Photo: Doc. Coordinating Ministry for the Economy

JAKARTA The Office of the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy this week received a visit from the Committee for International Trade (INTA) of the European Parliament. It was stated that the meeting was focused on accelerating the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA).

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto explained that one of the priorities of Indonesia's ASEAN 2023 Chairship for the digital sector is through the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).

"Hopefully digital trade platforms can be a driving factor for the inclusive economy and support small and medium enterprises to be able to participate in global trade," he said, quoted on Thursday, June 22.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga also shared understanding of Indonesia's food security efforts amid the issue of climate change and EU support to follow up on the commitment to cooperation for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) launched by the G7 countries for Indonesia's energy transition efforts.

He said, this meeting also reiterated the commitment of the two heads of state to be able to accelerate the completion of the IEU-CEPA negotiations with the target of completing the substance discussion by the end of 2023.

"The acceleration of the completion of the IEU-CEPA Negotiations depends on the common views and positions of both parties, it is hoped that the implementation of this comprehensive economic agreement will open up wider investment opportunities and increase the volume of trade between the two countries," he said.

On the same occasion, the European Parliament International Trade Committee appreciated the joint mission carried out by Indonesia and Malaysia within the framework of the CPOPC-facilited Joint Mission at the end of last May.

"We welcome the establishment of a consultation mechanism or dialogue platform (task force) between Indonesia, Malaysia and the European Union in order to discuss the Implementation of Guidelines EUDR so as not to burden the smallholders," said Chair of INTA Committee MEP Bernd Lange.

Several other issues that were discussed included related to halal certification, experience in the Indonesian pharmaceutical industry during the pandemic, and discussions on the practice of procuring government goods and services both in Indonesia and the European Union.

Meanwhile, this meeting is a follow-up to the visit of Joint Mission Indonesia and Malaysia to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium some time ago.