Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Indonesia will continue to uphold the principles of fairness and non-discriminatory treatment in facing various non-tariff barriers imposed by the European Union (EU).“Regarding the EUDR, Indonesia is pushing for the recognition of national standards (ISPO) and ensuring that regulations do not disadvantage smallholder farmers,” said the spokesperson of the ministry, Yvonne Mewengkang, in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.Mewengkang stated that Indonesia will continue to fight for a fairer market and prioritize protecting the interests of smallholder farmers and the national palm oil industry through constructive dialogue.She said Indonesia also held several bilateral meetings with European Union member states on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting to prepare for the implementation of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), which is targeted to enter into force in January 2027.The bilateral meetings also mapped out opportunities for export market diversification, including strengthening the digital economy and standardization sectors.Regarding the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting, the spokesperson stated that Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha C. Nasir encouraged the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027, to deliver tangible benefits for the public. Mewengkang stated that Indonesia prioritizes strengthening collective resilience in the face of the impacts of global conflicts that have driven rising energy and food prices and supply chain disruptions.Furthermore, Indonesia is also encouraging synergy between the two regions to reform the multilateral architecture to make it more inclusive and responsive, while ensuring consistent compliance with international law.In terms of energy transition cooperation, Indonesia continues to accelerate the green energy transition by leveraging technology and investment support from the European Union and optimizing ASEAN-EU cooperation programs, which are expected to reduce dependence on global fossil fuel fluctuations.One of the points in Joint Statement points of the 25th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting emphasized the work of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Palm Oil and the voluntary participation of its members to foster shared understanding and address challenges in a comprehensive, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner.In September 2025, Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that the European Union began to soften its stance on the EUDR following the signing of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU CEPA).According to Santoso, the IEU CEPA brings numerous benefits to Indonesia. In addition to opening broader market access, the economic partnership also eases all trade barriers, including the EUDR.The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires companies trading commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soybeans, timber, and their derivatives to conduct due diligence to ensure their products are free from deforestation, forest degradation, and violations of environmental and social regulations.