Human Rights
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-09
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Marian Harkin (IND), Sligo-Leitrim

I am responding on behalf of the Minister responsible for trade, Deputy McEntee, who is very supportive of free trade agreements, FTAs, and partnership agreements generally, particularly this one with Indonesia for the opportunity it presents to both sides to deepen our bilateral economic relationship, to which the Senator alluded. Indeed, at the most recent Government trade forum, the Minister specifically referenced the Indonesia agreement as one we would like to advance during our Presidency.
The EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA, was concluded, as the Senator said, in September 2025 after nine years of negotiation. As we can see, there was comprehensive negotiation about that agreement for that period. As the Senator knows, the agreement requires consent from the European Parliament and ratification by both the Council of the EU and Indonesia’s legislature before it can enter into force, targeted for 2027. I hear what she is saying and will relay the concerns she has articulated clearly.
It is important to say that in parallel to the negotiations, the Commission commissioned a sustainability impact assessment, SIA, of the CEPA between the EU and Indonesia. The SIA concluded that the EU-Indonesia agreement was expected to have positive impacts for both parties and their societies. In the context of the SIA and throughout the negotiations, the Commission provided the possibility for civil society organisations to have their voices heard, ask questions and contribute to a sound, evidence-based and transparent societal debate, including through dedicated civil society dialogues, a workshop with local stakeholders in Indonesia, bilateral meetings, interviews and web-based surveys. Furthermore, during the negotiations - which, as I said, have been ongoing for nine years - and in line with its transparency policy the Commission has published on its website, and regularly updated, reports on the negotiating rounds, the text proposals, press releases, facts sheets and background information materials to ensure that the public is kept up to date on developments. If member states or EU civil society representatives consider that trade and sustainable development, TSD, commitments in trade agreements are being infringed, they may lodge a TSD complaint with the single entry point. The Commission services will examine the allegations and consider the most appropriate course of action in that respect. It will remain in close contact with the complainant throughout the process.
In 2022, the Commission presented updated operating guidelines for the single entry point, making it easier for civil society to lodge complaints regarding violations of sustainability commitments with timelines included. There are also domestic advisory groups, DAGs, which are civil society bodies advising on the implementation of trade agreements. Since 2011, every FTA signed by the EU with a partner country or group of countries establishes these DAGs.
I will continue my response in my next contribution.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:11+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09