India-EU Relations Strengthen as High-Level Delegation Visits New Delhi

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Introduction
• A Longstanding Partnership
• Key Areas of India-EU Cooperation
• Conclusion
• India-EU Strategic Relations FAQs

Introduction

• A high-level delegation of 22 out of 27 European Commissioners, led by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, visited New Delhi for a two-day visit.
• This visit, the first of its kind, underscores the deepening engagement between India and the European Union (EU) across multiple sectors, including trade, technology, green energy, and defence.
• The visit coincided with meetings of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), bilateral discussions between Indian ministers and EU Commissioners, and a leaders’ summit, all aimed at fostering greater cooperation and investments.

A Longstanding Partnership

• India established diplomatic ties with the European Economic Community (EEC)—the forerunner to the EU—in 1962.
• Over the decades, relations have expanded significantly, with key milestones including:
  • 1993: Signing of the Joint Political Statement.
  • 1994: Establishment of the Cooperation Agreement.
  • 2000: The first India-EU Summit in Lisbon.
  • 2004: Upgrading relations to a Strategic Partnership.
  • 2020: Adoption of the India-EU Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2025.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EC President Ursula von der Leyen have met multiple times, strengthening diplomatic engagements.
• Their discussions have spanned topics like climate action, global trade, and regional security.

Key Areas of India-EU Cooperation

• Trade and Investments
  • India and the EU have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for over 15 years, with discussions resuming in 2021.
  • The EU remains India’s largest trading partner in goods, with trade increasing by 90% over the past decade.
  • Key trade statistics (FY 2023-24):
    • Bilateral trade in goods:$135 billion (Indian exports: $76 billion; imports: $59 billion).
    • Bilateral trade in services:$53 billion (Indian exports: $30 billion; imports: $23 billion).
    • EU’s FDI in India (2000-2024):$117.4 billion (16.6% of total FDI equity inflows).
    • Indian FDI in the EU (2000-2024):$40.04 billion.
  • The FTA aims to reduce tariffs, boost investments, and strengthen trade ties between the two economic powerhouses.
• Technology and Digital Cooperation
  • India and the EU are collaborating on emerging technologies, especially in response to China’s rapid advancements in digital infrastructure.
  • The India-EU TTC, launched in 2022, focuses on:
  • Digital and Strategic Technologies
  • Clean and Green Technologies
  • Trade, Investments, and Resilient Supply Chains
  • Semiconductor Collaboration: A MoU on semiconductor R&D was signed in November 2023.
  • Supercomputing Initiative: India and the EU signed an Intent of Cooperation in High-Performance Computing (HPC) in 2022.
  • AI and Cybersecurity: The EU participated in the Global Partnership on AI Summit in New Delhi (2023).
• Green Energy Cooperation
  • Sustainability is a key pillar of India-EU collaboration, particularly in green hydrogen and renewable energy.
  • India-EU Green Hydrogen Cooperation Initiative: India was the exclusive partner at the European Hydrogen Week 2024 in Brussels.
  • The European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed €1 billion to fund Indian hydrogen projects.
  • Joint efforts are underway to establish a green hydrogen ecosystem in India by 2030.
  • These initiatives support India's Net-Zero by 2070 goal and the EU’s carbon neutrality targets.
• Defence and Space Collaboration
  • India and the EU have strengthened defence and maritime security cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region under the Enhanced Security in and with Asia (ESIWA+) program.
  • First India-EU Joint Naval Exercise: Held in October 2023 in the Gulf of Guinea.
  • Security & Counterterrorism: Both sides collaborate on piracy control, natural disasters, and cyber threats.
  • Space Cooperation:
    • ISRO launched EU’s PROBA-3 mission in December 2024.
    • India-EU collaboration on Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan missions.
• People-to-People Ties
  • The Indian diaspora in the EU includes a significant number of students, professionals, and researchers.
  • Erasmus Scholarships: Over 6,000 Indian students have received Erasmus scholarships in the past two decades.
  • Research Collaboration:2,700+ Indian researchers have been funded by Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions since 2014.
  • Workforce Mobility: Indian professionals received 20% of EU Blue Cards in 2023-24, facilitating skilled migration.

Conclusion

• The visit of the European Commission College of Commissioners marks a historic milestone in India-EU relations.
• By deepening trade, technology, green energy, and defence cooperation, both sides aim to create a robust strategic partnership.
• The FTA negotiations, semiconductor R&D, and hydrogen projects will further strengthen bilateral ties, ensuring mutual economic growth and global leadership.
• As geopolitical shifts unfold, India and the EU remain committed to building a resilient, sustainable, and secure future together.

India-EU Strategic Relations FAQs

Q1. Why is the India-EU delegation visit significant?

Ans. The visit marks a new phase in bilateral relations, focusing on trade, technology, green energy, and defence cooperation.

Q2. What is the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC)?

Ans. The TTC is a strategic platform to enhance collaboration in digital technologies, clean energy, and trade resilience.

Q3. How much is India’s trade with the EU?

Ans. Bilateral trade in goods was $135 billion (FY 2023-24), with services trade at $53 billion.

Q4. What are the key areas of India-EU defence cooperation?

Ans. India and the EU collaborate in maritime security, counter-terrorism, and space exploration.

Q5. How is the EU supporting India's renewable energy goals?

Ans. The EU has committed €1 billion to India’s green hydrogen projects and renewable energy initiatives.

Source: IE