EU and India Team Up with New Strategy for Stronger Ties
The European Commission and its top foreign affairs official unveiled a fresh plan on Wednesday to supercharge the EU-India partnership. Called the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’, this joint communication aims to ramp up cooperation, boost prosperity, and tackle big global issues like security threats and economic shifts.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen kicked off the idea in her 2024-2029 guidelines. She wants to elevate the EU-India relationship by pushing trade deals, investments, and easier movement for skilled workers. At the same time, the plan dives deeper into defence industry teamwork. "Now’s the time to team up with trusted partners who share our values," von der Leyen said. "With this new EU-India strategy, we’re leveling up our bond—advancing trade, investment, and talent flow. We’re also locking in economic security, speeding up the green shift, and sparking innovation together."
She added that Europe stands as India’s top trading partner and is all set to wrap up a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by year’s end. "Europe’s open for business, and we’re eager to build a shared future with India," von der Leyen noted.
This agenda lays out the EU’s big-picture vision for working closer with India. It spotlights five key areas where both sides can shine, from building on current links to exploring fresh opportunities. In today’s shaky world—with changing geopolitics—stronger EU-India relations matter more than ever. They promise to fuel economic growth, beef up security, and spread out supply chains for a safer global setup.
A big highlight? The push for an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership. This means more talks on strategy, teaming up on crisis response, maritime safety, cyber defence, and fighting terrorism. It also eyes defence industry growth, like ramping up production, tech upgrades, secure supply lines, and fresh innovations. To make it happen, they’re starting talks on a Security of Information Agreement for sharing sensitive info smoothly.
The plan goes further, stressing teamwork in the Indo-Pacific region, handling hybrid threats, space security, and ramping up chats on Russia’s war in Ukraine, shadowy shipping fleets, and sanctions. On connectivity, it backs projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). It also boosts the Global Gateway initiative and EU-India trilateral efforts with other countries.
Mobility gets a major focus too. The agenda calls for better coordination at every level, including a pilot European Legal Gateway Office to ease worker movement. They want a full framework for study, jobs, and research exchanges between the EU and India.
Trade and investment hold huge untapped potential, the communication says. It pushes strategies to tighten business links, especially by sealing the ongoing EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Supply chains will get stronger, with emphasis on cutting-edge tech, digital policies, and economic security through the Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
Tech collaboration takes center stage, with ideas like an EU-India Startup partnership and inviting India to join the Horizon Europe research program. For the planet, the strategy eyes bold steps in decarbonisation and clean energy—think more renewables, green hydrogen tech, and green finance. It also spotlights joint work on food security, health, climate action, and disaster prep.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas praised India as a key global player and natural ally. "India’s one of the world’s biggest forces and a perfect match for the EU," she said. "We align on interests, strengths, and willpower in so many spots. Boosting our teamwork today will help security and prosperity for people and businesses on both sides. Sure, we have differences, but our partnership defends a fair, rules-based world order. Our talks will sort those out."
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