Joint Statement following the 11th European Union - Republic of Korea Summit

We, the Leaders of the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), held our 11th Summit in Brussels on 10 June 2026 and concluded the following:

1. Our Strategic Partnership is strengthening steadily across the board and contributes to the prosperity and security of our citizens. We welcome its progress since our last Summit and are committed to taking our Partnership forward in all its dimensions. Our relationship reflects our shared values and commitment to the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, democracy, human rights, open, free and fair trade, and common interests.

2. We are united in the view that international cooperation – based on international law, shared values and interests, and open economies – remains the best way to strengthen our common security and prosperity. We reaffirm our shared commitment to effective multilateralism, and to a stable and predictable rules-based free and fair economic order. We will work together to strengthen the United Nations, including through the UN80 initiative, to deliver a more effective, cost-efficient, and responsive organisation that is fit for purpose. We also remain committed to strengthen and reform the World Trade Organization as a central pillar of the multilateral trading system.

3. We underscore the importance of further deepening our bilateral cooperation in areas of strategic importance for our economies, notably, trade, investment, supply chains, digital, advanced technologies, energy, and innovation. In this context, we will launch the EU-Republic of Korea Competitiveness Partnership to enhance competitiveness and economic resilience in a structured manner.

4. We moreover endorse the establishment of the EU-Republic of Korea High-Level Economic Dialogue to deepen our cooperation in particular on economic security, trade and industrial policy. The newly established Dialogue will be underpinned by the relevant existing fora for engagement.

5. We emphasise the importance of our robust and thriving economic relationship, based on the full implementation of our Free Trade Agreement that ensures mutual benefits. Both sides are fully committed to ensure fair competition in their respective markets.

6. We welcome the signature of the EU-ROK Digital Trade Agreement, a landmark achievement that will further strengthen our Digital Partnership and foster innovation-driven growth.

7. We welcome the first steps in implementing our Security and Defence Partnership. We recognise the importance of maritime security, including ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight and protecting critical undersea infrastructure, in accordance with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We value the close collaboration in the field of maritime security, including the ROK's participation in EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, and we discussed ways to enhance joint endeavours to protect sea lanes, counter global shadow fleet, piracy, secure safety of navigation and to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure. We will strengthen our cooperation on cyber and hybrid threats, including through the EU-ROK Cyber Dialogue and other channels. We reaffirm our intention to work bilaterally and with likeminded partners to counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference and we will continue to strengthen our cooperation in this area. We reiterate our unwavering support for safeguarding and strengthening the nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control architecture. Further to the EU-ROK Space Security Dialogue, we will participate in global efforts to promote norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviour in space, and define principles for safe, secure and sustainable use and exploration of space. We look forward to developing further exchanges on defence initiatives, including exchanging information on defence industry related matters.

8. We agree to work towards the launch of negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement to facilitate the exchange of classified information and pave the way for our stronger cooperation, including in areas related to security and defence.

9. We condemn Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering. We stress the importance of a full cease-fire. We reaffirm the need for just and lasting peace, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this context, we reaffirm the importance of ensuring justice for victims.

10. We are committed to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction and remain resolved to support Ukraine, including through the Ukraine Donor Platform and the Ukraine Recovery Conference in June 2026. We discussed ways of increasing our support for Ukraine. We share a common view that the effective and consistent implementation of sanctions is of crucial importance.

11. We condemn support by third parties, in particular the DPRK, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine. We strongly condemn Russia-DPRK illegal military cooperation. We urge Russia and the DPRK to immediately cease all such activities and abide by the UN Charter and all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

12. We express grave concern over the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The DPRK must return at an early date to full compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear-weapon State and with the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and bring into force the Additional Protocol. The DPRK will never be accepted as a nuclear-weapon State under the NPT or have any other special status in that regard. We call on all UN Member States to fully implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We urge the DPRK to engage in meaningful discussions with all relevant parties.

13. We reiterate our commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. We support the ROK's efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue through proactive de-escalation and confidence-building measures, aiming to achieve peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula by expanding inter-Korean exchanges, normalisation of relations and achieving denuclearisation. We also recognise that a substantial improvement in the DPRK human rights situation is essential and call on the DPRK to allow access to international and humanitarian organisations.

14. We discussed the recent developments in the Middle East and its ripple effects around the world. We call for de-escalation and restraint, ensuring freedom of navigation and safe transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the need for all parties to fully respect international law, including international law of the sea as reflected in the UNCLOS. Only dialogue and diplomacy can lead to a reduction of tensions and bring peace and stability back to the Middle East, in full respect of the UN Charter and international law.

15. We reiterate our support for the freedom of navigation and overflight, including in the South China Sea, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We stress the importance of preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific.

16. We welcome our intensified engagement on economic security, building on the outcomes of the first Ministerial-Level Dialogue on economic security and emerging trade issues. We will work together, through all our relevant bilateral fora, and with partners to promote diversified and resilient supply chains through strategic diversification and to further develop mutual dialogue and cooperation, thereby supporting stable economic growth and driving future industrial development.

17. Global macroeconomic imbalances have widened and warrant renewed policy attention. We will work together within the G20 and other relevant frameworks to address excessive imbalances in a cooperative and timely manner to avoid a disorderly adjustment.

18. We commit to continue close consultations on our respective legislation and policies, in particular on industrial policies, as well as circular economy and carbon border measures relevant for energy-intensive industries. The EU and the ROK moreover agree to continue their joint efforts to tackle global steel overcapacity, including through the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC).

19. We acknowledge the importance of AI uptake for our economies and societies as well as boosting AI innovation and competitiveness and will pursue concrete collaborative actions to that end. In addition, we recognise the importance of AI safety, of protecting human rights, and of continued AI governance cooperation for the responsible use of AI technologies, including engagement with relevant international instruments, as well as of security concerns regarding malicious use of AI. To support further innovation and governance cooperation, we have concurred to conclude a Cooperation Arrangement on AI.

20. We recognise the crucial role of the Digital Partnership and the Digital Partnership Council in boosting competitiveness, innovation, resilience, and economic security of emerging and critical technologies. We welcome the reinforcement of the Digital Partnership, further strengthening research, innovation and regulatory cooperation, as well as engagement of industry and business stakeholders.

21. We will continue cooperating on strong data protection to enable secure and trusted cross-border data flows and help shape global privacy standards.

22. We will work together to support the international expansion and collaboration of EU and ROK deep tech start-ups.

23. We stress the importance of maintaining momentum and further strengthening our close cooperation on research and innovation. We welcome the first collaborative research projects under the 2025 Agreement associating the Republic of Korea to Horizon Europe, the EU's ongoing Framework Programme for Research and Innovation until 2027 and intend to start exploring the ROK's possible association to the next Research and Innovation Framework Programme while enhancing researcher exchanges to further promote collaboration.

24. We will continue working to address undue non-tariff barriers and to effectively improve market access for agri-food products to each other's markets, in particular for beef, poultry, pork, milk, eggs and honey, with a view to promoting bilateral trade for mutual benefits.

25. We recognise the importance of maintaining momentum on responsible business conduct and labour issues, including through continued and sustained efforts towards ratifying the fundamental International Labour Organization Conventions.

26. We are committed to enhance our collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges and fostering opportunities associated with the energy transition through the EU-ROK Green Partnership.

27. We will launch a High-Level Energy Dialogue to coordinate efforts on energy security, energy systems and the energy transition. We will endeavour to strengthen collaborative efforts on safe and sustainable low-carbon technologies.

28. We reaffirm our commitment to fully implementing our Nationally Determined Contributions, including the indicative 2035 greenhouse gas reduction targets and the 2050 net zero emissions goal. We will join forces to bolster the implementation of the global efforts called in the outcome of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement and promote initiatives to keep the 1.5 C temperature increase limit within reach. We remain committed to accelerating a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems and the reduction of methane emissions.

29. We reaffirm our commitment to conclude a robust and effective international legally-binding instrument to end plastic pollution. Recognising that the transition to a circular economy will play a key role in reducing the environmental impact of our economies, strengthening resource security, and enhancing our economic prosperity, we reaffirm our commitment to close cooperation between both sides in advancing policies aimed at accelerating the circular economy, including the improvement of the sustainability of products and packaging. We will work together towards accelerating the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the multilateral mechanism for the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources, including the Cali Fund, the Glasgow Declaration on Forest and Land Use, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), and the UN Convention to combat desertification.

30. Building on the Third UN Ocean Conference and the BBNJ Agreement, and ahead of the Republic of Korea hosting the Fourth UN Ocean Conference in 2028, we will strengthen maritime cooperation and ocean protection.

31. We reaffirm our shared commitment to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by mobilising additional resources for transformative impact in partner countries, through adequate coordination among development partners, including through advancing the renewed agenda on financing for development of the Sevilla Commitment. Building on the EU's Global Gateway, Korea's new ODA strategy and other relevant development initiatives, we reiterate our commitment to working together and identifying complementary projects on strategic investments in the digital, climate and energy, health, education, agriculture and transport sectors.

32. We will further enhance cooperation in advancing the effectiveness of development cooperation in all its forms, taking into account the work of relevant international platforms, such as the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation mechanism and the Busan Global Partnership Forum, in supporting global knowledge-sharing and learning in a complementary manner.

33. We commit to continue our close cooperation at bilateral and global levels to achieve sustainable, efficient, competitive, safe and secure transport systems, steered by our regular Transport Dialogue. We look forward to deepening our cooperation in the civil aviation sector, including through the EU-ROK Aviation Partnership Project and reviewing long-term strategies to enhance connectivity between the EU and ROK.

34. We welcome the conclusion of negotiations on the Agreement between the Republic of Korea and the European Union on the Transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data for the Prevention, Detection, Investigation, and Prosecution of Terrorist Offences and Serious Crime, and reaffirm our commitment to undertake all necessary efforts to ensure the swift signature and the entry into force of the agreement.

35. We will further strengthen coordination and joint efforts in combating serious and organised crime, including through closer cooperation between Europol and the Korean National Police Agency and between Eurojust and the Ministry of Justice of the ROK.

36. Recognising the importance of people-to-people exchanges in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening our ties of friendship, we will continue to work closely together in the fields of education, culture, research and skills. We share the ambition to further promote educational and academic exchanges and cooperation projects between higher education institutions, notably under the Erasmus+ programme, as well as through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.