In late February, the EU sent its highest-level delegation to India – the EU’s full College of Commissioners, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The delegation addressed key areas for deepening ties – from trade and technology to security and defence – sending a clear message to New Delhi: India matters. Symbolically, the visit signalled that democracies can still unite around common goals. Choosing India for the College’s first visit outside Europe carries particular weight given today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year and with the transatlantic relationship in free fall, Europe is increasingly looking to the Indo-Pacific to buttress its crumbling alliance structure. India, after all, is the world’s largest democracy and a rising economic power. Despite their compatibilities, the relationship between Europe and India has been anything but straightforward. Nowhere is this more evident than with the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Talks began in 2007 but some two decades on, the deal remains in limbo, stalled by differences over market access and regulatory standards. While the EU has scaled back its ambitions over time, India remains protective of its heavyweight industries, particularly agriculture and textiles. With renewed momentum to finalise a deal, a more integrated sector-based approach could offer a way forward.
Breaking the deadlock on the EU-India FTA | European Union Institute for Security Studies
