India and the European Union have pushed their long-running free trade talks back to the centre of their partnership, reaffirming a shared goal to conclude negotiations on the FTA by the end of this year.
According to the joint statement issued after talks in Brussels, “The two sides reaffirmed the shared ambition to conclude negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year and to accelerate negotiations on the Investment Protection agreement and the agreement on Geographical Indications.”
Broader strategic alignment on Indo-Pacific and global order
Meeting in Brussels, the two sides also aligned themselves on a vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, while stressing respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The two sides reiterated their commitment to a rules-based international order and said their exchanges emphasised sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful dispute resolution.
The agenda reflected a wider geopolitical landscape, with both sides underscoring the need for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and reiterating support for the ‘Peace Plan for Gaza’ amid the ongoing crisis.
Key meetings and economic focus areas
These discussions took place at the 11th India-EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations and the Sixth Strategic Partnership Review Meeting held on November 18 and 19.
The talks covered economic security, resilient supply chains, trade and investment, the Global Gateway initiative, the India-EU Connectivity Partnership and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), alongside cooperation in innovation and science and technology.
Both sides also highlighted progress under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council and said they looked forward to the next TTC Ministerial Meeting in Brussels in 2026.
Counterterrorism and multilateral cooperation
Counterterrorism remained a strong point of agreement, with the statement noting that both sides “unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.”
The consultations also addressed wider global and regional issues, including humanitarian relief, disaster resilience, and cooperation within the multilateral system. The EU and India “took note of India’s upcoming BRICS chairship in 2026 and noted substantial points of convergence on global issues to be further explored.”
