India and the European Union are making a renewed push to strengthen ties, focusing on trade, counterterrorism, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Several high-level visits and meetings are planned in the lead-up to the India-EU summit early next year, with both sides aiming to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year.

The EU is scheduled to unveil its vision for a new strategic agenda with India on September 17. This vision document is expected to reinforce the strategic partnership between the two entities in areas such as technology, trade, mobility, defense, and security. It will serve as a precursor to the joint strategic agenda that will be formalized at the next India-EU summit.

A key focus of the intensified engagement is the FTA, which both sides are eager to finalize. The 13th round of negotiations is being held this week in Delhi, with the subsequent round planned for Brussels in October. The FTA is expected to be formally signed at the summit. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has emphasized that the India-EU FTA can help stabilize the global economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has stressed the need for immediate progress to achieve the agreement this year.

Negotiations are ongoing to address key obstacles, including rules of origin, market access, and tariffs on products like wine and dairy. The EU is India's largest trade partner, with bilateral trade in goods amounting to USD 135 billion in the financial year 2023-24.

In addition to trade, counterterrorism is a significant area of focus. A counterterrorism dialogue is scheduled to take place in Brussels, where officials will discuss issues such as cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism. India is expected to raise the role of Pakistan-based The Resistance Front (TRF) in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The dialogue aims to intensify counterterrorism cooperation through information exchange and capacity building. A 30-member delegation from the EU's Political and Security Committee is also expected to visit India.

Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific is another crucial aspect of the strengthened India-EU relationship. Jaishankar is expected to visit Brussels for the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial on November 20-21, marking the fourth such meeting since the EU launched its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2021.

Several other high-level engagements are planned, including a meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) this fall. The TTC serves as an important forum for deepening cooperation in strategic technologies like reliable AI and semiconductors. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is also scheduled to visit India ahead of the India-EU summit.

The EU's Political and Security Committee is also expected to visit India this week. The series of meetings will focus on possible deliverables for the summit. The EU's vision document is expected to reinforce strategic partnerships in areas like technology, trade, mobility, and defense and security.

Both India and Germany have expressed their commitment to expediting efforts to complete the India-EU FTA. Jaishankar has stated that an FTA would help stabilize the global economy. Discussions have also included global hotspots, such as Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Germany has welcomed Prime Minister Modi's discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed hope that India will use its ties with Moscow to push for peace in Ukraine.