EU Sets New Agenda to Deepen Partnership With India

• The EU and India will deepen cooperation in defence, trade, energy, technology, and sustainability
• Focus areas include maritime security, cyber defence, counterterrorism, space security, and hybrid threats
• The agenda emphasizes advancing trade, investment, talent mobility,  and defence industrial collaboration

The European Union (EU) has recently published a new strategic agenda intended to enhance and expand its partnership with India in major domains including defence, trade, energy, and technology, noting the change in the geopolitical reality, wherein the EU stated a stronger partnership with India would help to bolster economic growth, prosperity, and security.

The "New Strategic EU-India Agenda" is referred to by the EU as a milestone in bilateral relations, and focuses on deepening, broadening and better coordinating cooperation along five priorities: security and defence; connectivity and global issue; prosperity; sustainability; and technology and innovation.

"Now is the time to focus on reliable partners and double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values.With our new EU-India strategy, we are taking our relationship to the next level", said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Turning to domestic defence within the agenda, it focuses on maritime security cooperation, cyber defence, and counter terrorism.

She added, "Europe is already India's biggest trading partner, and we are committed to finalising our Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year. Europe is open for business. And we are ready to invest in our shared future with India".

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The agenda also emphasizes launching negotiations for a agreement on security of information, and includes other key focuses on hybrid threats, improving security in space, engaging on Russia's war in Ukraine and coordinating sanctions.

The agenda highlights a strengthening of regional initiatives including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), further development of the EU’s Global Gateway, and trilateral cooperation with third countries. Economically, the EU made a pledge to advance trade, investment, talent mobility, and industrial cooperation, largely with respect to defence.

First, all 27 EU member states must endorse the strategic roadmap, so it can subsequently be approved at the next EU-India Summit, which is likely to happen in the first quarter of the new year.

The EU noted, "Beyond the bilateral dimension, the new strategic agenda highlights EU-India joint engagement on global issues and with third partners, reflecting India's growing global influence".

The EU underscored that the revised partnership is not only about bilateral growth; but also confronting global challenges from collective, coordinated action.