A high-level parliamentary delegation from the European Parliament’s International Trade Affairs (INTA) Committee, led by Cristina Maestre, INTA Permanent Rapporteur for India, held an important meeting with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh at Parliament on Wednesday.
Discussions during the meeting highlighted the deepening ties between India and the European Union, two of the world’s largest democracies and open market economies.
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Highlighting the strong trajectory of India-EU relations, Vice President Harivansh expressed confidence that the long-awaited India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be finalized soon. “India and the European Union share a unique partnership based on democratic values, economic openness and pluralism. The journey of our bilateral relationship continues to progress and we are optimistic about the completion of the India-EU FTA,” he said.
The meeting also discussed the European Union’s recent Joint Communication in September 2025, which outlines a “new India-EU strategic agenda”. Harivansh hailed the development as a positive step towards elevating partnership across several sectors, including trade, technology, security, defence, innovation, climate action, connectivity, mobility and global governance.
Reflecting on parliamentary diplomacy, he recalled the visit of the cross-party parliamentary delegation to Brussels in June 2025, which followed the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attack. “Such regular parliamentary exchanges symbolize the strengthening of the India-EU partnership, enabling meaningful interactions with our European counterparts,” he noted.
The deputy speaker of the upper house highlighted the close economic ties between the two entities, stressing that the EU remains India’s main trade and investment partner and a major technology source. “In the last financial year, the EU was India’s largest bilateral goods trading partner,” he added.
Looking ahead, Harivansh detailed the key focus areas of the new strategic agenda, including the planned finalization of the India-EU FTA by the end of the year and the conclusion of a security and defense partnership, which are expected to feature prominently at the upcoming India-EU summit.
Acknowledging the crucial role of the European Parliament’s INTA Committee in ratifying trade deals, he said, “Concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial FTA will be win-win for both India and the EU. »
On a hopeful note, he added: “Both sides share the vision of achieving a successful FTA that will further strengthen our trusting partnership in today’s uncertain geopolitical context. »
The meeting coincided with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Brussels for talks with his European counterparts, underscoring the shared commitment to take the India-EU partnership forward.
This engagement marks a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, signaling accelerated cooperation and mutual growth in a rapidly changing global landscape.
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