FTA, Security Pact, Green Hydrogen: India–EU Announce Major Outcomes
India, EU Announce Major Strategic and Trade Outcomes During Leaders’ Visit
- India and EU finalise negotiations on Free Trade Agreement
- Comprehensive Strategic Agenda adopted for partnership till 2030
- New security, defence and disaster management cooperation launched
- Green hydrogen, mobility and digital innovation initiatives announced
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th Jan: India and the European Union on Tuesday announced a wide-ranging set of outcomes following the visit of the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission to India, marking a major boost to the India–EU Strategic Partnership.
At the centre of the outcomes is the adoption of “Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda”, an overarching document covering all aspects of the India–EU strategic relationship and setting the roadmap for cooperation across sectors.
A key highlight of the visit was the joint announcement on the conclusion of negotiations for the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aimed at strengthening trade, economic ties and financial cooperation between the two sides.
In the area of defence and security, both sides agreed to a Security and Defence Partnership and launched negotiations for an India–EU Security of Information Agreement, reflecting deeper cooperation on strategic and security matters.
Several important institutional and regulatory arrangements were also announced, including a Memorandum of Understanding between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA), and an administrative arrangement on advanced electronic signatures and seals, aimed at enhancing digital trust and cross-border transactions.
To strengthen skilling and mobility, India and the EU signed an MoU on a Comprehensive Framework on Cooperation on Mobility and announced the setting up of a European Union pilot Legal Gateway Office in India to facilitate and enhance skill mobility.
In the area of disaster management, an administrative arrangement was concluded between India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the EU’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO) to strengthen cooperation in disaster risk management and emergency response.
Reflecting the shared focus on clean energy, both sides agreed to the constitution of a Green Hydrogen Task Force, aimed at promoting cooperation in green hydrogen development and clean energy transition.
In science and technology, the India–EU Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation was renewed for the period 2025–2030. The two sides also launched exploratory talks for India to enter into an association agreement with the Horizon Europe Programme, which would further expand collaboration in research and innovation.
Additionally, India and the EU agreed to jointly implement four projects under India–EU Trilateral Cooperation, covering:
- Digital Innovation and Skills Hub for Women and Youth
- Solar-Based Solutions for Empowering Women Farmers in Agriculture and Food Systems
- Early Warning Systems
- Solar-Based Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa and Small Island Developing States in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean connectivity
The outcomes of the visit underscore the growing depth and breadth of the India–EU partnership, spanning trade, security, clean energy, mobility, disaster management and research, and reflect a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation between two of the world’s major economic and strategic partners.
