India and the European Union (ECU) have unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.
The two sides also reaffirmed their common ambition to conclude negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year and to accelerate negotiations on the Investment Protection Agreement and the Geographical Indications Agreement.
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“India and the European Union held the 11th India-EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations and the 6th Strategic Partnership Review Meeting in Brussels on November 18 and 19, respectively,” a joint press release said on Tuesday.
The meetings assessed overall bilateral relations and reviewed the implementation of the ‘India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025’, which is coming to an end this year.
“Both sides welcomed the very positive dynamics in EU-India relations, including the historic visit of the College of Commissioners to India in February, the first EU-India Strategic Dialogue hosted in Brussels by HRVP Kallas and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in June, and the EU’s adoption of the Joint Communication on the Strategic Agenda for India in September,” the joint press release said.
The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including economic security, resilient supply chains, trade and investment, the Global Gateway, the India-EU Connectivity Partnership and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), as well as cooperation in innovation, science and technology, and opportunities to deepen people-to-people contacts in education and research.
India and the European Union stressed the importance of cooperation at the multilateral level and continued dialogue on economic issues, including on the diversification of supply chains.
Both sides also noted the progress made in the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and look forward to the next TTC ministerial meeting in Brussels in 2026.
India and the EU also discussed prospects for their partnership on global issues, including enhanced cooperation within the multilateral system and collaboration on humanitarian and disaster resilience issues, including through the Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Coalition.
They took note of India’s upcoming BRICS presidency in 2026 and noted substantial points of convergence on global issues for further exploration.
They were also looking forward to the next edition of the India-EU Human Rights Dialogue.
The consultations highlighted the shared commitment to strengthening regional and global security coordination, and reiterated their shared commitment to promoting a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The exchanges emphasized the rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes.
Both sides stressed the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Both sides reiterated their support for the Gaza Peace Plan and stressed the need for a rapid restoration of peace and stability.
The consultations also recognized the wide range of common security challenges and reaffirmed their mutual interest in strengthening and deepening dialogue and cooperation between the EU and India on security and defense matters, notably on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber issues, space, defense industry, disarmament and non-proliferation.
“Both sides highlighted the progress made in these areas and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening dialogue and cooperation in the areas of peace, security and defense,” the joint press release said.
India and the EU look forward to constructive negotiations aimed at the timely and successful conclusion of a Security and Defense Partnership and an Information Security Agreement.
The exchange also focused on preparations for the next phase of the partnership, focused on developing a new joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda, and hoped to endorse it when convening the India-EU summit next year in New Delhi.
The foreign policy and security consultations were chaired by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Olof Skoog and Sibi George, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India, and the Strategic Partnership Review was chaired by Acting Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Global Affairs Olivier Bailly and Secretary (West).
The Secretary of State (West) also participated in the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum on November 20-21 and delivered a speech at the high-level event on critical maritime infrastructure and spoke at the panel discussion on shared prosperity, economic security and digital connectivity.
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