FTA push, defence ties at core of EU’s strategic agenda with India

The European Commission and the EU High Representative on Wednesday adopted a Joint Communication, outlining a new strategic agenda to elevate the India-EU partnership to a higher level, building on the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India earlier this year.

The blueprint acknowledges India’s rising global stature, economic weight, security role, technological capability and demographic advantage, identifying it as a “natural strategic partner”.

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the the commission, said time had come to focus on reliable partners. “With our new EU–India strategy, we are taking our relationship to the next level. Advancing trade, investment and talent mobility. Advancing the clean transition and driving innovation together. Deepening our industrial cooperation in defence," Ursula said. She said Europe was committed to finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of the year.