Prior to his arrival in Australia, Ambassador Visentin was the first-ever  EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Visentin previously served as the Head of the Parliamentary Affairs Division in the European External Action Service (EAAS) in Brussels. Earlier in his career, he was an official of the European Commission and served in the Directorate General for External Relations.

Mr. Visentin was also Head of Cabinet to the last President of the ECSC (European Community for Steel and Coal) and Advisor on European affairs to the Italian Minister of Industry, Energy and International Trade.

Mr. Visentin holds a degree in Law and is specialised in International and Community Law.

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    Gabriele Visentin portrait photo

Message from the Ambassador

Welcome to the website of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Australia at an exciting time in the EU-Australia relationship. Here you will find detailed information about a vast array of initiatives and programmes that are strengthening and expanding our cooperation, ranging from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations to the EU’s programmes in education and research that are open to Australians. You will also find useful information and links about the EU, its institutions, policies and global actions. 

The EU and Australia share strong bonds. Diplomatic relations were established in 1962 with our shared values rooted in common cultural, historical and personal heritage. The EU and Australia work together to promote and defend democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance globally. 

In August 2017 the EU and Australia signed a Framework Agreement, which formally entered into force in October 2022. The agreement will continue deepening the already rich history of cooperation. Since 2018 the EU and Australia have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement. Concluding this will help our already robust trade and investment relations reach new heights.

Thank you for your interest in the European Union!