EU-INDIA
EU-India
The relationship between India and the European Union (EU) share a dynamic and multifaceted relationship grounded in shared values of democracy, rule of law, and a commitment to a rules-based international order. As two of the world’s largest and most diverse entities, India and the EU collaborate extensively in areas such as trade, investment, climate change, security, technology, and sustainable development.
The EU is India’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for trade in goods worth €120 billion in 2024, or 11.5% of India’s total trade. India is the EU’s 9th largest trading partner, accounting for 2.4% of the EU’s total trade in goods in 2024. Trade in goods between the EU and India has increased by almost 90% in the last decade. Trade in services was reported at €59.7 billion in 2023.
EFTA – India
India and the EFTA States are also engaged at multilateral as well as bilateral levels. Bilateral trade between India and EFTA during 2023 was ~€5.5 billion (Total Imports: ~€3.2 billion and Total exports: €2.3 billion). Among EFTA countries, Switzerland is the largest trading partner of India followed by Norway. The EFTA States collectively rank among the global leaders in both merchandise and services trade. Together India and the EFTA States represent a combined GDP of about USD 5.4 trillion, providing the scale for deeper integration.
Milestones
“EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025”
The focus on trade, future technologies, standards, and sustainable development has clearly been brought out by the “EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025”, endorsed by India and the EU, in July 2020. The key focuses of cooperation are around Security, Climate Change, Clean Energy, ICT, Transport, Green Deal, Resource Efficiency, Circular Economy, Clean Tech, Renewables, Artificial Intelligence, Research & Innovation, RAIL etc. and importantly to resume the EU-India Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement negotiations.
In this roadmap, both sides have also agreed to work together to strengthen Trade and investment, Business & Economy by enhancing market access, addressing existing trade barriers and preventing the emergence of new ones, alignment to international standards and best practices, easing up the assessment of conformity and improving investment conditions. Cooperation around Standardisation and its harmonisation to International Standards and promotion of existing international standards is clearly mentioned around the topics of Security, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Environment (Circular Economy), Information and communications technology (ICT), Transport (Railways) etc.
The cooperation agreements endorsed through the “Roadmap to 2025” were reiterated at the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting in Porto on 8 May 2021, wherein emphasis was on resuming trade negotiations, resolution of market access related issues, cooperation on global digital standards and network security, 5G technology and beyond 5G, Joint Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Quantum and High-Performance Computing, protection of personal data and privacy, Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Partnership, Partnership on Smart and Sustainable Urbanization etc.
EU – India Trade & Technology Council
The European Union and India launched a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in April 2022. The decision to set up this Trade and Technology Council is first for India with any of its partners and second for the European Union following the first one it had set up with the US. Establishing the EU-India Trade and Technology Council is a key step towards a strengthened strategic partnership for the benefit of all peoples in the EU and India. The TTC was formally launched on February 6, 2023. A joint statement from the launch outlined the three working groups and their terms of reference. The first ministerial meeting took place in May 2023, with subsequent meetings
Working Groups
- Strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity: digital connectivity, Artificial Intelligence, 5G/6G, high performance and quantum computing, semiconductors, cloud systems, cybersecurity, digital skills and digital platforms.
- Green & clean energy technologies: green technologies, including investment and standards, clean energy, circular economy, waste management, plastic and litter in the ocean.
- Trade, investment and resilient value chains: resilience of supply chains and access to critical components, energy, and raw materials. To work towards promotion of international standards and cooperation on addressing global geopolitical challenges.
The European Union and India held their second ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) on 28 February 2025, in India, as part of one of the first visits by the College of Commissioners early in the new mandate. Read More
First Ever India visit by the College of Commissioners & President European Commission
President of the European Commission Ms. Ursula von der Leyen visited India on February 27–28, 2025, leading the European Union College of Commissioners for the first time outside of Europe. The historic visit, which was the first of its kind in the EU-India relationship, focused on strengthening the strategic partnership through enhanced cooperation in areas like trade, technology, and green and digital transitions. Key outcomes included commitments to expedite the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and deepen collaboration in defense, cybersecurity, and maritime security.
The leaders agreed that shared values and principles including democracy, rule of law, and the rules-based international order in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter make India and the EU like-minded and trusted partners. The India-EU Strategic partnership is needed now, more than ever, to jointly address global issues, foster stability, and promote mutual prosperity. Read More
EU – India Free Trade Agreement
On 17 June 2022, the European Union relaunched negotiations with India for a Free Trade Agreement. The relaunch of EU-India bilateral negotiations was decided by the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting held on 8 May 2021. The EU and India had first launched negotiations for a free trade agreement in 2007, before the talks were suspended in 2013 due to a gap in ambition. Both India and the EU have reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the FTA by the end of 2025. The FTA is part of a broader effort to deepen EU-India relations, which includes cooperation on security, technology, and global issues.
- Recent talks: The 14th round of FTA negotiations took place in Brussels in October 2025, and a high-level EU trade delegation visited New Delhi in late October 2025 to continue discussions.
India-EU Connectivity Partnership
During the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting, both EU and India have also concluded a comprehensive Connectivity Partnership, confirming their commitment to collaborate on supporting resilient and sustainable connectivity both in India and in third countries. This connectivity partnership will support sustainable digital, transport and energy networks, and the flow of people, goods, services, data, and capital centred on equity and inclusivity for the benefit of both the EU and India and assisting in global development efforts, based on Sustainable Development Goals principles.
Cooperation around Standardisation and its harmonisation to International Standards and promoting existing international standards fares high on the agenda for both India and EU.
Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and EFTA
Following 21 rounds of negotiations, India and the EFTA Member States successfully concluded a comprehensive Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10, 2024. The EFTA-India TEPA covers the following areas: Preamble, General Provisions, Trade in Goods (incl. Rules of Origin and Trade Facilitation), Trade Remedies, SPS, TBT, Trade in Services, Investment Promotion and Cooperation, Intellectual Property, Government Procurement, Competition, Trade and Sustainable Development, Dispute Settlement, Institutional Provisions, Final Provisions. On 1 October 2025, the landmark Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the EFTA States entered into force, representing a significant milestone in the trade and economic relations between the parties. Read More
New Strategic EU-India Agenda
The European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication outlining a ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda‘ marking a significant milestone in EU-India relations. This initiative, announced by President von der Leyen in her Political Guidelines for 2024-2029, aims to deepen, broaden, and better coordinate bilateral cooperation, enhance prosperity and security for both partners and help tackle major global challenges.
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