India, EU review Strategic Partnership, focus on FTA, technology and connectivity
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi. India and the European Union (EU) on November 9 reviewed the progress of their strategic partnership, with particular emphasis on expediting the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), strengthening economic and supply-chain cooperation, advancing critical technologies and expanding connectivity initiatives.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on November 11, the discussions took place during the 7th India-EU Strategic Partnership Review Meeting (SPRM) held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Matti Maasikas, Deputy Secretary General for Geoeconomics and Interinstitutional Issues of the European External Action Service.
Both sides welcomed the positive momentum in India-EU relations and reviewed the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda adopted at the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi on January 27, 2026.
A major focus of the meeting was strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties, including the timely signing and implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The two sides also agreed to continue working towards concluding the Investment Protection Agreement and the Agreement on Geographical Indications, which are expected to provide a more comprehensive framework for economic engagement.
The discussions covered ways to strengthen supply-chain resilience and economic security, including through strategic cooperation under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and the Blue Valleys initiative.
The two sides also renewed their commitment to advancing the clean transition and reviewed ongoing cooperation in this area. They discussed the possibility of including Indian ship recycling yards that comply with EU regulations on ship recycling in the European Union’s list of approved ship recycling facilities. Such recognition could create fresh opportunities for India’s ship recycling industry while promoting environmentally sustainable maritime practices.
Cooperation in critical and emerging technologies also featured prominently in the discussions. The areas identified for greater collaboration included artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, digital public infrastructure (DPI), advanced semiconductors, clean technology and biotechnology.
Both sides also discussed promoting a conducive digital environment and expanding cooperation in digital public infrastructure. They expressed satisfaction over the deepening of research collaboration and discussed India’s potential association with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme. Such participation could strengthen research partnerships, facilitate technology development and provide Indian researchers and institutions with greater opportunities to collaborate with European counterparts.
Connectivity emerged as another important pillar of the strategic partnership. The two sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). They also explored trilateral projects in clean energy, climate resilience, green mobility and digitalisation, while agreeing to enhance coordination on shaping effective global governance.
The meeting also reviewed opportunities to expand people-to-people exchanges, particularly in talent mobility, education and skills development. Both sides discussed updates on the European Legal Gateway Office, which is intended to facilitate legal mobility, and looked forward to the next edition of the India-EU Human Rights Dialogue.
Reaffirming their commitment to the strategic partnership, India and the EU described themselves as trusted, predictable and like-minded partners, and pledged to pursue mutually beneficial, concrete and transformative outcomes across their areas of cooperation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review preparations for forthcoming engagements at the leaders’ level. Both sides agreed to hold the eighth India-EU Strategic Partnership Review Meeting in Brussels at a mutually convenient date in 2027.
The latest review reflects the expanding scope of India-EU engagement, which increasingly extends beyond traditional trade and diplomatic cooperation to encompass economic security, advanced technologies, clean energy, connectivity, research and global governance. With the implementation of the comprehensive strategic agenda adopted at the January 2026 summit, both sides are seeking to translate the growing political convergence into tangible economic and strategic outcomes.
