India-European Union Relations 2025

Reference

A 27-member delegation of the European Commission College of Commissioners paid a two-day visit to India from 27-28 February 2025. Out of the 27 Commissioners, 22 are part of the delegation led by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

India-EU bilateral relations

The relations between India and the EU are based on shared values ​​and principles such as democracy, rule of law, rules-based international order and multilateralism. These relations are multifaceted and cover a wide range of topics including trade, investment, climate change, science and technology, digital, connectivity and agriculture.

Historical Background

• India-EU bilateral relations date back to the 1960s, when India established diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community in 1962.
• The first India-EU Summit was held in Lisbon in June 2000.
• These relations were elevated to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ during the 5th India-EU Summit held in The Hague in 2004.
• So far, 15 summits have been held between India and the EU.
• The current bilateral relations are guided by the ‘India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025’ adopted at the last India-EU Summit in July 2020.

Diplomatic relations

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EU President Ursula von der Leyen have met at least seven times before.
• The EU President made an official visit to India in April 2022, during which she delivered the inaugural address of the Raisina Dialogue as the Chief Guest.
• Prime Minister Modi and President von der Leyen met briefly during the G-20 Rio Summit in November 2024.

Economic relations:

• Merchandise trade: Bilateral trade in goods with the EU stood at $135 billion in the financial year 2023-24.
  • The EU has become India's largest trading partner in terms of goods.
  • Exports to the EU in the year 2023-24 were $76 billion and imports from the EU were $59 billion.
• Services trade: Bilateral trade in services between the two sides stood at $53 billion in the year 2023.
  • This includes Indian exports of $30 billion and imports of $23 billion.
• Investments: EU investments in India are valued at over $117 billion, with nearly 6,000 European companies having a presence in India.
  • India’s investments in the EU are around $40 billion.

India-EU Business and Technology Council

• During the official visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to India in April 2022, the establishment of the India-EU Business and Technology Council was announced.
• The Council represents three important pillars of India-EU cooperation: digital and strategic technologies; clean and green technologies; and trade, investment and resilient supply chains.
  • The first meeting of the Council was held on May 16, 2023 in Brussels.
  • The second meeting was held on 28 February 2025 in New Delhi.

Joint Military Exercises

• The first India-EU joint naval exercise was held in the Gulf of Aden in June 2021.
• India and the EU conducted a joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea in October 2023.
• The Indian Navy participated in the Maritime Partnership Exercise with EUNAVFOR Atlanta in August 2022.
• EUNAVFOR (Operation Atlanta) and the Indian Navy cooperated in escort operations for humanitarian assistance off the coast of Somalia in December 2018 and 2019.

 Joint Initiatives

• Following an invitation from Prime Minister Modi, the EU announced its decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in 2023.
• The EU is also a dialogue partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) from October 2023.

Energy Cooperation

• The India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP), established in 2016, focuses on clean energy and climate-resilient technologies.
  • It includes a wide range of programmes covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart grids and energy markets, energy security and other burning issues.
• Green hydrogen, offshore wind power, development of gas infrastructure in India and reduction of methane emissions are emerging areas of cooperation.
  • The EU is a partner organisation of the International Solar Alliance since 2018.
• The EU joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in March 2021.

Green Energy Solutions

• India was the only partner country at the European Hydrogen Week in Brussels in November 2024 under the India-EU Green Hydrogen Cooperation Initiative.
  • The EU was a key partner at the International Green Hydrogen Conference in Delhi in September 2024.
• The European Investment Bank has committed to support Indian hydrogen projects with 1 billion euros in funding.
• Indian and European companies are collaborating in the renewable and hydrogen sectors with the aim of developing a green hydrogen ecosystem in India by 2030.

Cooperation in Transport Sector

• Connectivity Partnership Initiative: The India-EU Connectivity Partnership was launched in 2021 to cooperate in the connectivity sector between the two countries.
  • It also outlines various areas of cooperation on connectivity, including cooperation in third countries.
  •  Focus areas include transport, digital, energy networks, and flows of people, goods, services, data and capital.
• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: The development of this corridor was announced on the occasion of the G-20 summit in New Delhi in the year 2023.
  • In this declaration, the leaders of India, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and America expressed their commitment.

Science and Technology Cooperation

• Bilateral science and technology cooperation between India and EU is done under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in the year 2007.
  • A Joint Steering Committee oversees and advances scientific cooperation projects in areas such as smart grids, water, vaccines, information and communication technology, polar science and mobility of young scientists working with the European Research Council.
• In July 2020, an agreement was signed between the Indian Department of Atomic Energy and Europe's EURATOM for research and development cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
•  India joined the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN as an associate member in 2017.
•  Both India and the EU are signatories to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Agreement and participate in the construction of an experimental fusion reactor facility.
•  India-EU cooperation in space dates back to the 1980s when Indian satellites used Europe’s Ariane launcher.
•  Earth observation, cross-support arrangements and operational support for major space missions are some of the areas of ongoing cooperation.
•  The European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission was successfully launched by ISRO’s PSLV-XL in December 2024.

Cooperation on Migration and Mobility

• The India-EU Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility provides a framework for cooperation on joint objectives, recommendations and actions. 
• This shared agenda focuses on promoting regular migration at relevant skill levels, cooperation on social protection issues and tackling irregular migration.

People-to-People Relations

• The growing Indian diaspora in the EU comprises a large number of students, researchers and skilled professionals.
• Indian professionals account for the highest share (over 20%) of EU Blue Cards issued in 2023-24.
• Over 6,000 Erasmus scholarships have been awarded to Indian students over the past 20 years, making them one of the top recipients of scholarships.
• Over 2,700 Indian researchers have been funded by Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (part of the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe) since 2014, the highest in the world.

Conclusion

India-EU Bilateral relations between the two countries have expanded to cover many areas including political and security issues, trade and investment, climate change and clean energy, digital transition, critical and emerging technologies, sustainable urbanisation and environment, information and communication technology, research and innovation, space and nuclear, health, agriculture and food security and education and culture. These relations are likely to deepen and prosper in the changing global scenario.