The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen begins his two -day visit to India on Thursday, accompanied by the entire college of commissioners – all the main leaders of the executive branch of the European Union.
India and the European Union are already cooperating closely on issues such as foreign policy, defense and development of technology. Now Brussels increases efforts to finalize a long-standing free trade agreement with the most populous country in the world.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the trip will open the way to “strengthen the bilateral partnership based on increasing convergences”.
The two parties hope to stimulate cooperation in digital innovation and sustainable technological fields with the meeting of the Indian-EU Trade and Technology, a bilateral body made up of EU EU and EU ministers.
UE trying to “diversify partnerships”
Experts in foreign policy and diplomats claim that the EU currently wishes to reduce dependence on traditional allies such as the United States while distrusting China.
“The visit arrives at a critical moment when Europe sails in a transatlantic break in rupture and a disruptive presidency of Trump (Donald).
“This disruptive behavior of the main powers which offered it security, goods and inexpensive energy, pushes the EU to actively diversify its partnerships, and India has become a natural partner,” he added.
Trade agreement still in limbo
India and the EU try to speed up a free trade agreement and stimulate collaboration in clean technology and look at strategic alignment in the face of potential American rates.
But several problems concerning commercial agreement, including market access for products such as cars or alcoholic beverages, are still causing problems.
There are also differences on intellectual property protections, in particular the insistence of India to what investors exhaust local remedies in the country before seeking international arbitration.
The next series of negotiations is expected to take place in March.
Response to the “belt and road” of China
Gulshan Sachdeva, professor of European studies who is also chief coordinator of the Center of South Excellence of India, says that the expansion of links with the EU goes beyond the free trade agreement.
“Even if a trade agreement remains elusive, the current global geopolitical fragmentation offers new opportunities to the two largest democratic entities in the world to collaborate in fields such as technology and connectivity,” Sachdeva told DW.
He also declared that India had largely engaged with the major European powers on a bilateral basis, but it also recognized the importance of promoting relations with the EU as a block.
He stressed India’s desire to modernize and an increasing convergence of interests in Indo-Pacific.
According to Sachdeva, the two parties actively explore new paths thanks to initiatives such as the Council Trade and Technology and the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which aims to strengthen traffic and communication between Europe and Asia. The IMEC is often described as an response to the ambitious belt and road and road “China program.
“In addition, India’s commitment with the EU has extended beyond its traditional accent on the main states to forge new links with the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region,” said Sachdeva.
The EU always wants China’s “desire”
Shanthie Mariet d’Esza, the head of the Institute of Mantraya Strategic Studies in India, told DW that the links between New Delhi and Brussels were not yet fully optimized. While working with the United States and the EU, India also has solid links with Russia.
“The EU remains critical of India’s position on the Ukraine war. On the other hand, India considers that the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism and deforestation legislation is unfair,” said Souza.
Despite these differences, however, India and the EU have a strategic partnership that addresses issues such as security, climate change and sustainable development. India is not safe from current geopolitical turbulence from the United States, she added.
“India assesses its response to unilateral actions of the Trump administration concerning prices and immigration,” said Souza.
The visit of Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials presents a chance of “serious dialogue” on a whole series of questions, she noted. These include “trade, green technology, education, health, AI, expansion of defense relations, Indo-Pacific and the desire of China, in particular for Europe”.
New geopolitical alignment?
More than 6,000 European companies are present in India and the trade in goods has increased by almost 90% over the past decade. According to the European Commission, the EU as a whole is now the largest trading partner in India, before the United States and China. In 2023, exports and imports to the European block represented $ 130 billion (124 billion euros) or 12.2% of total Indian trade.
“This visit marks a historic stage in EU -Indian relations and is essential because it reflects mutual recognition of increasing global authority and a push to transform this into action – whether through commercial transactions, technological partnerships, or a stronger geopolitical teacher,” said C Raja Mohan, a guest teacher at Singapore Alignment of South Asian, told DW.
Earlier this month, the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the strategic importance of the India-EU relationship in the navigation on global challenges. “In a world that promises to be so volatile and uncertain, a stronger India-EU relationship can be an important stabilization factor,” he said.
Published by: Darko Janjevic
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