India and EU review strategic partnership as FTA signing and Modi’s Brussels visit near
India and the EU reviewed their partnership in New Delhi, covering the free trade agreement, an investment pact, technology and connectivity.
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India and the European Union reviewed their strategic partnership in New Delhi on Monday 9 November 2026, with trade, technology and connectivity on the agenda as both sides prepare to sign their free trade agreement, IANS reported. The seventh India-EU Strategic Partnership Review Meeting was co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Matti Maasikas, Deputy Secretary General for Geoeconomics and Interinstitutional Issues at the European External Action Service.
India EU Strategic Partnership Review: what was discussed
The two sides reviewed how the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda is being carried out. It was adopted at the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi on 27 January 2026, according to India Strategic. On trade, they discussed the timely signing and implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. They agreed to keep working to conclude an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications.
The talks also covered supply chains and economic security through the Trade and Technology Council and the Blue Valleys initiative. Technology cooperation spanned AI, quantum technologies, digital public infrastructure, advanced semiconductors, clean technology and biotechnology. India’s possible association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s research programme, also came up.
Key numbers
- 7th: the India-EU Strategic Partnership Review Meeting, held in New Delhi.
- 16th: the India-EU Summit, which adopted the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda on 27 January 2026.
- More than 2 billion: the people the free trade pact is projected to cover, IANS reported.
- About a quarter: the share of the global economy the pact is projected to cover, IANS reported.
- December: the month European Council President Antonio Costa said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Brussels to sign the pact formally.
Connectivity, shipping and people-to-people ties
On connectivity, the two sides discussed the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, along with possible trilateral projects in clean energy, climate resilience, green mobility and digitalisation. They also discussed adding Indian ship recycling yards that comply with the EU Regulation on Ship Recycling to the EU’s list of approved facilities.
People-to-people topics included talent mobility, education, skills and updates on the European Legal Gateway Office. India Strategic reported that both sides looked forward to the next India-EU Human Rights Dialogue.
What the two sides said
The joint press statement said both sides “welcomed the very positive momentum in the India-EU relations,” IANS reported. The partners described themselves as “trusted, predictable and like-minded” and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the partnership.
What happens next
The meeting also reviewed preparations for upcoming leaders-level engagements, India Strategic said. IANS reported that Costa said in October that Modi would travel to Brussels in December to sign the trade pact formally. The eighth review meeting will be held in Brussels in 2027 on a mutually convenient date. For wider coverage, see our India pages.
The review sets up the planned signing of the India-EU free trade agreement in Brussels. Talks on an investment pact and a geographical indications deal are still open.