A breakthrough in long-stalled negotiations over a free trade deal between Australia and the European Union could come as soon as this weekend, when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and EU President Ursula von der Leyen are due to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

The EU also seems set to use the Australian social media ban as a model for one across the bloc.

Sources have told the ABC that virtually all the issues have been smoothed out by trade negotiators in recent months, with the only major issue requiring political horse trading between leaders being beef.

That leaves open the possibility of a deal being agreed this weekend and formalised over the Australian summer.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič seemed to confirm the optimistic outlook in an exclusive

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