The European Union and India on Tuesday (November 25) reaffirmed their shared ambition to conclude negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year, following two high-level engagements in Brussels.
The 11th India-EU foreign policy and security consultations and the sixth strategic partnership review meeting were held on November 18 and 19, 2025. Both sides reviewed progress under the ‘India–EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025,’ which concludes this year, and noted the momentum in bilateral ties.
Key developments included the European Commission’s visit to India in February, the first EU–India strategic dialogue in Brussels between HRVP Kallas and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in June, and the EU’s adoption of the ‘Joint Communication on the Strategic Agenda on India’ in September.
Discussions spanned economic security, resilient supply chains, trade and investment, the Global Gateway, the India-EU connectivity partnership, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Cooperation in innovation, science, technology, education, and research is also featured.
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Along with reaffirming the FTA target, both sides agreed to accelerate negotiations on the investment protection agreement and the agreement on geographical indications. They also acknowledged progress under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council and anticipate the next ministerial meeting in Brussels in 2026.
The meetings covered global and regional matters, including cooperation in the multilateral system, humanitarian and disaster resilience initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and India’s BRICS chairship in 2026. Both sides condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and looked forward to the next India-EU human rights dialogue.
Security discussions reinforced the commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific rooted in the rules-based international order, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution. The two sides noted the need for a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine and reiterated support for the peace plan for Gaza.
Both countries also reaffirmed the intent to deepen cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber issues, space, defence industry collaboration, disarmament, and non-proliferation. Both sides expressed interest in timely negotiations on a security and defence partnership and a security of information agreement.
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Preparation is underway for the next phase of engagement through a new joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda, expected to be endorsed at the India-EU summit in New Delhi next year. The consultations were chaired by Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Olof Skoog and India’s Secretary (West) Sibi George, while the strategic partnership review was chaired by Acting Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues Olivier Bailly and George.
Sibi George also participated in the EU Indo-Pacific ministerial forum on November 20–21, delivering a keynote address on critical maritime infrastructure and speaking at a roundtable on ‘Shared Prosperity, Economic Security, and Digital Connectivity.’