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Visit to Australia of the European Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation

DDG Cristina Russo, Chief Negotiator for Australia’s association to the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, visited Australia to conclude negotiations, initial the text of the agreement, and participate in a series of engagements across Canberra and Sydney.  

DDG Russo visit to Australia
© European Union, 2026

The EU Delegation to Australia welcomed DDG Cristina Russo to Australia this week. A highlight of the visit was the initialling of Australia’s association to Horizon Europe by DDG Russo and Australia’s Chief Negotiator for Horizon Europe and Head of Science Division at the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), Mr Anthony McGregor, which came less than three months after the European Commission President’s historic visit to Australia, where the EU and Australia concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and signed a Security and Defence Partnership.  

DDG Russo debriefed EU Member State Ambassadors after the initialling during a Heads of Mission Meeting at the EU Delegation to Australia. 

She also attended and participated in two discussions on “Connected Continents: A New Era of EU-Australia Research Cooperation through Horizon Europe” in Canberra and Sydney. 

In Canberra, the event was hosted with the Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University. 

The Sydney session at the University of Sydney was hosted with the Group of Eight. Australian Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, attended and delivered the keynote address. 

The events brought together government representatives, science counsellors, and the research community to explore the next chapter of EU-Australia research cooperation. 

The visit concluded with Group of Eight CEO, Ms Vicki Thomson, interviewing DDG Russo on the Debate@Go8 podcast.

A big thank you to our partners for their support in delivering these events; EURAXESS, the Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, and the Group of Eight, Sydney event speaker Professor Deborah Terry AC, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland, and moderators Ms Anne McNaughton, Director of the Centre for European Studies and Ms Vicki Thomson, CEO of the Group of Eight. Special thanks to Minister Ayres and the team at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.  

Read the announcement by Australian Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, the Hon Tim Ayres, on the initialling here.  

Read the media release on Australia’s association to Horizon Europe here.