India, EU review strategic partnership roadmap ahead of 2025 conclusion

Brussels (Belgium), November 26 (ANI): India and the European Union (EU) reviewed their entire political, economic and security partnership at two high-level meetings held in Brussels on November 18 and 19, as both sides prepare to move beyond the India-EU Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2025.
According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the 11th India-EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations and the 6th Strategic Partnership Review Meeting reviewed the “whole spectrum of bilateral relations”. They 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 momentum in EU-India relations”, noting the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February, the first EU-India Strategic Dialogue in Brussels in June and the EU’s adoption of the Joint Communication on the Strategic Agenda for India in September.
The joint statement further noted that the discussions also 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 the areas of innovation, science and technology, and opportunities to deepen people-to-people contacts in education and research.
The statement said New Delhi and Brussels “reaffirmed their shared ambition to conclude negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year”, while accelerating negotiations on the Investment Protection Agreement and the Geographical Indications Agreement.
Both sides underlined the need for continued dialogue on supply chain diversification and noted the progress made under the India-EU Business and Technology Council.
“They highlighted the importance of cooperation at the multilateral level and continued dialogue on economic issues, including on 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,” the statement said.
The discussions focused on economic security, resilience of supply chains, global gateway, India-EU connectivity partnership and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The two sides also explored deeper cooperation in innovation, science and technology, education and research.
India and the EU “unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.”

“They took note of India’s upcoming BRICS presidency in 2026 and noted substantial points of convergence on global issues for further exploration. Both sides unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to a “free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific”, emphasizing respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rules-based international order.
They 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” and reiterated their support for the Gaza Peace Plan, calling for a rapid restoration of stability.
The consultations recognized common security challenges and reaffirmed mutual interest in strengthening dialogue in the areas of maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber issues, space and defense industry cooperation.
India and the EU said they “look forward to constructive negotiations aimed at the timely and successful conclusion of a Security and Defense Partnership and an Information Security Agreement.”
The two sides also discussed preparations for the next phase of engagement focused on a new joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda, which will be agreed at the India-EU Summit in New Delhi next year.
The foreign policy and security consultations were chaired by Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, and Sibi George, Indian Secretary (West).
The strategic partnership review meeting was chaired by Olivier Bailly, Acting Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Affairs and Secretary (West).
The Secretary of State (West) also attended the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum on November 20-21, where he delivered a speech at the session on critical maritime infrastructure and participated in a panel discussion on economic security and digital connectivity. (ANI)