German Ambassador: IEU-CEPA Receives Broad Support in Europe

Jakarta (ANTARA) - German Ambassador to Indonesia Ralf Beste has said the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) has broad support in Europe for prompt ratification and implementation. “There is basically broad support for Europe to have a bilateral trade agreement with Indonesia,” Beste said during a press conference at the German Embassy in Jakarta on Friday. He noted that unlike some other partnership treaties that sparked debate during their drafting, the agreement between the EU and Indonesia faces no significant rejection. If the ratification process proceeds smoothly in both the European Parliament and the Indonesian Parliament, the IEU-CEPA could come into force by early 2027, he said. Beste added that Germany fully supports the IEU-CEPA, which will further facilitate trade at both the EU level and bilaterally between Germany and Indonesia. With full implementation of the IEU-CEPA, 98 percent of products previously subject to import tariffs will become duty-free within the next ten years, he stated. In preparation for the agreement’s implementation, Germany has already disseminated information about the IEU-CEPA and business opportunities in Indonesia to its business community. “We invite Indonesian investors to invest in Germany, and we will also encourage German entrepreneurs to trade and invest in Indonesia,” Beste said. Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the IEU-CEPA ratification process is targeted for completion before the end of this year, with full implementation expected by early 2027. Airlangga met with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on 5 June to discuss further steps towards ratification.