India’s growing engagement with EU

India—EU relations have entered a phase of renewed strategic momentum, with both sides intensifying engagement ahead of the forthcoming India-EU Summit in the Capital.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

India and the European Union are seeking to advance long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and adopt a new Joint Strategic Agenda to steer the partnership beyond the existing roadmap.

This ongoing engagement underscores a mutual commitment across trade, investment, clean and green energy, science and technology, security and defence, digital initiatives, connectivity, space, and agriculture.

High-level India-EU engagements have strengthened in recent years, with the EU College of Commissioners, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, visiting India in February last year -- the first-ever such visit to a bilateral partner outside Europe.

The relationship between India and the EU rests on shared values and principles, including democracy, rule of law, a rules-based international order, and commitment to effective multilateralism.

Ties encompass a broad spectrum, including trade and investment, security and defence, climate action and clean energy, digital transition, connectivity, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges. The EU remains India’s largest trading partner for goods, with bilateral trade