The European Council on Monday (October 20, 2025) accredited conclusions on a ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ introduced earlier by the European Feewelcoming the “robust impetus” it supplies to relations between the European Union and India.
The Belgium-based council, chargeable for the final political route and priorities of the 27-member financial bloc, highlighted efforts on either side to conclude an India-EU free commerce settlement (FTA) by the top of the yr.
Its conclusions this week endorse the Joint Communication on the brand new agenda and its goal of deepening EU-India ties, together with prosperity and sustainability, know-how and innovation, safety and defence, and connectivity and international points.
“The council welcomes particularly efforts to conclude a balanced, formidable, mutually helpful and economically significant free commerce settlement, which the European Fee and the Indian authorities intention to Finalize by the top of the yr,” the council mentioned in an announcement.
“Such settlement should embrace enhanced market entry, elimination of commerce obstacles, and provisions on sustainable growth,” it mentioned.
The European Council famous that nearer collaboration between the EU and India on safety and protection issues primarily based on the ideas of mutual belief and respect had been of explicit significance towards the backdrop of an more and more complicated geopolitical outlook.
“The council takes observe of the intention to pursue work in direction of the institution of a safety and protection partnership, which may additionally facilitate protection industrial cooperation when applicable,” it states.
It mentioned the EU will proceed to interact with India on all points of “Russia’s conflict of aggression towards the Ukraine”. It additionally emphasised the joint capability and duty of the EU and India to safeguard multilateralism and the rules-based worldwide order with the UN Constitution at its core, in addition to the multilateral buying and selling. system, particularly the World Commerce Group (WTO).
“The promotion and safety of democratic values and norms, worldwide regulation and human rights, together with the rights of girls and kids, is an intrinsic a part of the EU-India strategic agenda,” it added.
The council known as on the European Fee to take ahead the articulation and implementation of this ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ on the premise of the priorities set out within the Joint Communication final month.
It adopted the go to of the EU Faculty of Commissioners to India in February this yr, which laid the muse for a “new chapter in EU-India relations”.
Throughout this landmark go to — the primary of its variety to the Indo-Pacific — either side dedicated to elevating the Strategic Partnership to the next degree to spice up shared prosperity, strengthen safety, and sort out main international challenges collectively, the Joint Communication learn.
Printed – October 20, 2025 10:10 pm IST