The European Union has launched a new strategic agenda to significantly strengthen its partnership with India, extending cooperation in defence, trade, technology and global security issues. Released on 17 September 2025 by the European Commission, the document marks a renewed push to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of the year, while expanding collaboration in areas of strategic global importance.
Under the newly unveiled agenda, the EU seeks to forge an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership. Key pillars include enhanced maritime security, expanded cyber defence cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, and an agreement to facilitate secure, classified information exchange. The plan also prioritizes cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, tackling hybrid threats, strengthening space security, and coordinating responses to sanctions and external security challenges.
Trade relations are also central to the strategy. The EU has reaffirmed its commitment to conclude the long-pending FTA with India by year-end. This is seen as vital to reduce trade barriers, protect investments, and ensure that both sides benefit fairly from access to each other’s markets. Initiatives will also focus on securing supply chains, promoting green hydrogen, pushing for decarbonization of heavy industry, and accelerating technology and innovation cooperation, including in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and emerging sectors.
Connectivity and global governance also feature prominently in the agenda. The EU’s strategy seeks to deepen engagement through multilateral platforms, strengthen regional connectivity through economic corridors like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and work collaboratively in addressing climate change, WTO reform, human rights, UN reform, and global challenges.
The agenda does not shy away from acknowledging friction points: EU officials have raised concerns over India’s participation in Russian military exercises, and continuing purchases of Russian oil. These are viewed as complications in forging a closer relationship, especially in light of global sanctions and expectations arising from geopolitical alignments. The agenda reportedly proposes to address such issues through dialogue, roadmap agreements, and by ensuring that each partner adheres to shared principles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the agenda, expressing readiness to take India’s relationship with the EU to the “next level.” He hailed the move as stemming from shared commitment, shared goals, and shared responsibilities. His office emphasized that this strategy aligns with India’s priorities of securing a rules-based order while enhancing prosperity and global cooperation.
Economically, the strength of the EU as India’s partner is underscored by the fact that in the 2023-24 fiscal year, bilateral trade in goods between the two crossed $130-$135 billion, making the EU one of India’s biggest trading partners. The proposed trade deal by year-end is expected to further deepen this economic engagement.
In sum, the EU’s new strategic agenda with India represents a multipronged effort: reinforcing defence and security cooperation, pushing forward trade and technology linkages, strengthening global governance, and addressing geopolitical tensions through shared frameworks. With both sides emphasizing mutual values, economic opportunity, and strategic alignment, this agenda could shape India-EU relations in the current decade and beyond.
