Source: Government of the Republic of Korea
It is deeply meaningful that my first visit to Europe as President begins here in Brussels, the heart of the European Union.
Following my inauguration last year, President António Costa of the European Council and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission graciously invited me to visit the European Union.
I am pleased to have accepted their invitation, and I extend my sincere gratitude for the warm welcome they have shown to me and my delegation.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1963, the Republic of Korea and the European Union have built a close and enduring partnership.
Together, we have established a strong institutional framework across the political, economic, and security domains through such agreements as the Framework Agreement, the Free Trade Agreement, and the Framework Agreement on the Participation of the ROK in EU Crisis Management Operations. Over the years, we have also deepened our mutual trust as strategic partners.
More recently, our cooperation has expanded into new areas, including security and defense, digital and advanced technologies, and climate action.
At today’s summit, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthening our partnership and held substantive discussions on practical ways to advance our cooperation. Allow me to share the key outcomes of our meeting.
First, to deepen our security and defense cooperation, we agreed to launch negotiations on the Security of Information Agreement.
As the international environment grows increasingly uncertain, the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific has become more closely interconnected than ever before.
I look forward to the swift conclusion of this agreement, which will enable us to securely share classified information and to actively pursue industrial and research cooperation.
Second, we signed the Digital Trade Agreement to further strengthen our economic partnership.
The European Union is Korea’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and our largest source of foreign investment.
This agreement will help create a stable and predictable environment for data-driven business and promote the continued growth of digital trade between us.
Paperless trade, electronic authentication, and digital signatures will streamline transactions and administrative procedures, enhancing the convenience and benefits enjoyed by the people of both sides.
Third, we concluded the Agreement on the Transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data for the Prevention, Detection, Investigation and Prosecution of Terrorist Offences and Serious Crime, further strengthening our ability to protect the safety and security of our citizens.
In recent years, we have seen a rise in the smuggling of dangerous goods, including narcotics and firearms, by international travelers.
To address this challenge, it is essential that customs authorities have timely access to airline passenger data so that high-risk travelers can be identified and inspected in advance.
This agreement establishes the legal basis for our customs authorities to obtain PNR data from EU-registered airlines.
We expect it to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation in combating transnational crime, including terrorism and drug trafficking.
Fourth, we agreed to continue expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the industries and technologies that will shape our future.
We will strengthen cooperation on carbon neutrality and the energy transition, while expanding joint research and exchanges in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
I am confident that these efforts will further enhance the innovative capacity and global competitiveness of future industries in both Korea and the European Union.
Finally, we agreed to work closely together to promote peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.
During today’s discussions, I called on the European Union to continue providing steadfast support and to play a constructive role in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue and advancing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. We agreed to work together toward these shared objectives.
We also exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East and agreed on the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region, ensure the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and safeguard freedom of navigation.
In addition, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting efforts to restore peace in Ukraine and contribute to its reconstruction.
Today’s meeting was particularly meaningful because it enabled us to identify practical ways to protect our shared interests amid a rapidly changing international landscape and to deliver tangible outcomes that will benefit the people of Korea and the European Union.
I hope to welcome President Costa and President von der Leyen to Korea in the near future, and I look forward to meeting them again on that occasion.
On behalf of the people of the Republic of Korea, thank you once again for your warm hospitality.