India-EU Partnership Reaches New Level, Says EU Envoy

European Union Ambassador Herve Delphin said on Friday that the India-EU partnership has reached a "totally new level" in both strategic and qualitative terms, describing the relationship as "limitless, ambitious and progressive". The envoy cited the India-EU summit as a major milestone, with key outcomes including a joint strategic agenda, progress on a free trade agreement, and a security and defence partnership pact.

The proposed India-EU free trade agreement is expected to double two-way trade in value in the next few years, with the EU already being India's leading trading partner.

The EU remains India's largest trading partner in goods, with bilateral goods trade standing at around $136 billion in 2024-25.

The immediate next steps for the partnership include the implementation of the joint strategic agenda and the negotiation of the free trade agreement, with the EU and India committed to expanding ties across multiple sectors. The EU Ambassador's statement will be followed by further discussions and meetings between Indian and EU officials to take the partnership forward.