The EU Council has given its nod to a new strategic agenda designed to deepen ties with India in key sectors including defence and technology. This paves the way for formal adoption of the agenda following discussions with India at the next EU-India summit, expected early next year.
The agenda aims to strengthen EU-India collaboration across several vital areas. These include sustainability, technology, innovation, security, defence, and connectivity, as well as addressing global issues. The EU seeks enhanced market access and removal of trade barriers, alongside provisions for sustainable development. The council has expressed its support for concluding a "balanced, ambitious, mutually beneficial and economically meaningful" free trade agreement (FTA) with India, with both sides aiming to finalize the agreement by the end of this year.
In the realm of security and defence, the council acknowledged the intention to pursue the establishment of a Security and Defence Partnership, potentially facilitating defence industrial cooperation. Areas identified for expanded cooperation under the defence pillar include maritime security, cyber defence, and counterterrorism. To enhance collaboration, the EU and India can share intelligence and engage in counter-terrorism drills. A Security of Information Agreement (SoIA) between the EU and India could further assist in security matters and facilitate regular security consultations.
The EU Council also affirmed that it would continue to engage with India on all aspects of Russia's war against Ukraine. The council emphasized the joint capacity and responsibility of the EU and India to safeguard multilateralism and the rules-based international order, with the UN Charter at its core, as well as the multilateral trading system, particularly the WTO.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, highlighted the importance of focusing on reliable partners and strengthening partnerships rooted in shared interests and common values. She stated that the new EU-India strategy would elevate the relationship to the next level by advancing trade, investment, and talent mobility; strengthening joint economic security; accelerating the clean transition; driving innovation; and deepening industrial cooperation in the defence sector.
The new agenda builds upon the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February, which laid the groundwork for a "new chapter in EU-India relations". During that visit, both sides committed to elevating the Strategic Partnership to boost shared prosperity, strengthen security, and tackle major global challenges together.
The strategic agenda identifies five key areas of shared interest: trade and investment, sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and global connectivity. Proposed actions include strengthening supply chains, promoting emerging technologies, expanding cooperation on renewables and green hydrogen, and launching negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement to enable classified data sharing.
According to a 2023 European Commission report, India is projected to become the third-largest global digital economy by 2025, presenting significant opportunities for technological innovation and cross-border partnerships. Both the EU and India prioritize the development of clean technologies and addressing climate change, with the partnership aiming to support sustainable development goals and innovation in renewable energy.
