Source: The post EU-India partnership has been created, based on the article “EU-India partnership set for upgrade” published in “The Hindu” on 18 September 2025. EU-India partnership.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper -2- Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Context: The European Union (EU) has launched a new strategic agenda to upgrade its partnership with India in trade, technology, security, defence and climate change.
Recent Developments
- The EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas released the “New Strategic EU–India Agenda” in Brussels and urged the European Parliament and Council to adopt it.
- Focus areas: The agenda focuses on strengthening cooperation in trade, technology, security, defence industry and climate action.
- Brussels and New Delhi are currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and are also working on an agreement to exchange classified information to deepen defence industry ties.
- Both sides are also planning a joint roadmap for the next EU–India summit in early 2026.
Importance of the Partnership
- The EU considers India a crucial partner in its global strategy, especially amid increasing geopolitical uncertainties.
- Trade between India and the EU has grown by more than 90% over the last decade, demonstrating the expanding economic relationship.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the adoption of the new strategic agenda as an opportunity to deepen cooperation further.
Challenges Identified
- India’s ties with Russia: The EU is concerned about India’s military exercises with Russia, including its participation in Zapad-2025, and its continued import of Russian oil.
- Tariff barriers: There are tariff and non-tariff barriers in the agricultural and industrial sectors, including India’s Quality Control Orders (QCOs), which the EU views as restrictive.
- Negotiation delays: EU officials have expressed frustration at the slow pace of negotiations and want to see faster progress.
- Divergences on Ukraine conflict: The EU has also emphasised the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine, while India has maintained its strategic autonomy on the issue.
EU’s Strategy to Address Challenges
- The EU’s College of Commissioners has agreed that the EU should deepen ties with India and not leave a void for other powers to fill.
- European officials have cited the principle of “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” to ensure that all issues are resolved comprehensively before the finalisation of agreements.
- The EU aims to conclude a trade deal with India by the end of 2024 and wants future talks to cover both tariff and non-tariff barriers comprehensively.
Question: Evaluate the recent initiatives to upgrade the India–European Union (EU) partnership and discuss the key challenges in strengthening this relationship. (Answer in 150 words)
