The Indian world the magazine, in collaboration with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, organized a high-level debate on September 29, 2025 to launch its fifth issue, Cultivating Europe: Navigating India-EU Strategic Ties. The event examined the trajectory of India-Europe relations against a backdrop of global disorder, shifting alliances and evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.
Ambassador Hervé Delphin, head of the European Union delegation to India, delivered the opening speech, describing the vision behind the new project EU-India Strategic Program. He presented it as a long-term investment in deepening bilateral relations in an era marked by intensifying competition between the United States and China, technological disruption, the return of nationalist policies and the retreat from multilateralism.
The panel, chaired by Prof. C. Raja Mohan, included Ambassador Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador Mohan Kumar, Ms. Suhasini Haidar and Prof. Gulshan Sachdev. Together, they provided keen insight into the evolving relationship between India and the EU and the need for both partners to expand their strategic agency in an increasingly multipolar world.
Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including security concerns, strategic autonomy, progress in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, migration and skilled labor mobility, European engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, technology and AI collaboration, climate change and Europe’s approach to Russia.
The event marked a crucial milestone in fostering frank conversations about the next phase of cooperation. The dialogue reflected the current status of the partnership and outlined the way forward, reaffirming that sustained dialogue and diverse cooperation will be essential for India and Europe to realize the full potential of their strategic partnership.
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