On Monday, October 20, 2025, the European Council officially endorsed the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda,’ a significant initiative first proposed by the European Commission. This approval signals a strong commitment to invigorating relations between the European Union and India.
The Council, based in Belgium and responsible for steering the 27-nation economic bloc’s political direction, specifically highlighted the joint efforts by both sides to finalize a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of the year.
This week’s conclusions fully support the Joint Communication on the new agenda, which aims to deepen EU-India collaboration across various critical areas, including economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, technological advancement, innovation, security, defense, connectivity, and pressing global issues.
In an official statement, the Council expressed its particular enthusiasm for the ongoing work to achieve a ‘balanced, ambitious, mutually beneficial, and economically meaningful free trade agreement.’ Both the European Commission and the Indian government are striving to complete these negotiations before the year concludes.
The Council emphasized that any such agreement must ensure expanded market access, the removal of existing trade barriers, and robust provisions for sustainable development.
Given the increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape, the European Council underscored the vital importance of enhanced cooperation between the EU and India on security and defense. This collaboration is rooted in principles of mutual trust and respect.
Furthermore, the Council acknowledged the intention to develop a comprehensive security and defense partnership. This partnership could, where appropriate, also facilitate deeper industrial cooperation in the defense sector.
The EU affirmed its continued engagement with India regarding all facets of ‘Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.’ It also stressed the shared capacity and responsibility of both the EU and India to uphold multilateralism and the rules-based international order, with the UN Charter as its foundation, alongside a robust multilateral trading system, particularly through the World Trade Organization (WTO).
A core tenet of the EU-India strategic agenda is the ‘promotion and protection of democratic values and norms, international law, and human rights, including the rights of women and children.’
The Council formally urged the European Commission to proceed with the detailed formulation and implementation of this ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda,’ building upon the priorities established in the Joint Communication issued last month.
This agenda follows a landmark visit by the EU College of Commissioners to India earlier this year in February. That visit, a first of its kind to the Indo-Pacific region, laid the groundwork for a fresh chapter in EU-India relations.
During this pivotal engagement, both the EU and India pledged to elevate their Strategic Partnership, aiming to foster greater shared prosperity, enhance security, and collectively address significant global challenges, as outlined in the Joint Communication.