India and the European Union (EU) have made significant progress in their ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which will be comprehensive, balanced and meaningful, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Mr. Jaishankar held meetings with senior EU officials in Brussels, where he underlined that the evolving trade pact would enhance the strategic partnership between the two sides.

“Recognised the progress in our discussions for a comprehensive, balanced, and meaningful FTA agreement between India and EU. Agreed that it would elevate our strategic partnership, that is rapidly acquiring new dimensions and facets,” Mr. Jaishankar said after meeting Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.

Mr. Sefcovic described their interaction as “valuable”, and reaffirmed the EU’s strategic outlook towards India, stating, “We keep our strategic lenses firmly in place, and I am looking forward to seeing Piyush Goyal, Union Commerce Minister, soon.”

As India and the EU work towards finalising the FTA, the discussions are anchored around mutual interests in economic security, investment, trade facilitation, and strategic technology collaboration.

During his visit, Mr. Jaishankar also met Mr. Jozef Sikela, EU’s Commissioner for International Partnerships. Their discussion covered broader global cooperation initiatives under the EU-India Strategic Agenda.

“Following our recent mission to India, we keep pushing for a stronger EU-India partnership. Today I had a meeting with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr Jaishankar. We discussed the new EU-India Strategic Agenda, the progress of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor Project (IMEC), and our joint priorities under the Global Gateway, which include clean energy, sustainable urbanisation and enhanced connectivity,” Mr. Sikela said.

Mr. Jaishankar also shared his perspective on the outcomes of the meeting. “Our conversation focused on driving forward India-EU engagement in connectivity, IMEC, green shipping and clean energy. Today’s signing of our trilateral cooperation arrangement will benefit the Global South,” he stated.

The discussions and agreements reflect a shared commitment to multilateralism, energy transition, and infrastructure development. The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, launched during the G20 Summit in 2023, remains a centrepiece of Indo-European connectivity efforts.

The Global Gateway is the EU’s flagship strategy to promote trusted global partnerships in infrastructure, and India is seen as a key partner in that mission. Clean energy transition, sustainable urban development, and digital infrastructure are expected to be central to the collaboration.

Mr. Jaishankar’s visit is part of a week-long diplomatic tour of Europe, covering France, Belgium, and meetings at the European Union headquarters in Brussels. The visit aims to deepen trade, investment and geopolitical cooperation with India’s long-standing European partners.

India and the EU had formally resumed FTA negotiations in June 2022 after a gap of nine years. Since then, several rounds of talks have been held on tariff reduction, services, labour standards, environmental rules, dispute resolution, and data flows.

Both sides aim to conclude an agreement that not only enhances market access and investment flows but also addresses sustainability and labour-related concerns.

Officials have stated that once finalised, the India-EU FTA could become one of the most ambitious trade agreements for India, potentially unlocking new opportunities for businesses across pharmaceuticals, automobiles, digital services, green technologies, and agriculture.

Additionally, the agreement is expected to contribute to the EU’s diversification strategy, particularly amid growing calls within Europe to reduce economic dependencies on China.

As geopolitical dynamics shift and India continues to position itself as a reliable economic and strategic partner, the FTA could emerge as a cornerstone in Indo-EU relations.

Mr. Jaishankar’s engagements this week are also expected to lay groundwork for future visits by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who will continue negotiations and attend bilateral business forums later this year.

The visit to Europe underscores New Delhi’s broader strategy to enhance cooperation with like-minded partners on economic security, infrastructure connectivity, and rules-based global order.

As the India-EU Strategic Partnership continues to evolve, the success of the FTA talks will be closely watched by industry stakeholders, policymakers, and international observers alike

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