Towards 2030: A Joint European Union-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

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This Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, endorsed at the 16^th EU-India Summit held on 27 January 2026 in New Delhi, aims to further reinforce the strategic partnership by broadening, deepening and better coordinating EU-India cooperation to deliver mutually beneficial, concrete and transformative outcomes for both partners and for the wider world.

The strategic agenda covers key areas: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global issues, reinforced by enablers across pillars. Building on more than 20 years of strategic partnership, it is a forward-looking action plan that reflects the commitment of both sides to work together in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment as trusted, predictable and like-minded partners.

1. PROSPERITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

1.1. Boosting Trade and Investment                                          

1.1.1 Recognizing that trade and economic ties continue to shape the foundation of the EU-India bilateral partnership, the two sides reaffirm commitment to this vital pillar to strengthen trade linkages, investment avenues, and enhance global supply and value chains.

1.1.2 Hailing the EU-India Free Trade Agreement as a historic milestone in the strategic partnership, call for its timely implementation to further unlock immense opportunities as a driver of shared prosperity and resilience.

1.1.3 Conclude an Investment Protection Agreement to provide high, predictable standards of protection for investors on both sides, and promote investment in selected high-growth and future-oriented sectors.

1.1.4 Conclude an Agreement on Geographical Indications to ensure effective protection of iconic products and boost trade opportunities.

1.1.5 Following the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on supervisory cooperation between the European Securities and Market Authorities and the Reserve Bank of India, enhance regulatory cooperation on financial services, including establishing a structured Regulatory Dialogue on Financial Services.

1.1.6 Deepen and broaden EU-India customs cooperation.

1.1.7 Strengthen the bilateral EU-India Macroeconomic Dialogue.

1.1.8 Scale up Team Europe Global Gateway investments in and with India, with the European Investment Bank (EIB) as a key partner.

1.2. Strengthening supply chains and economic security

1.2.1 Jointly assess external vulnerabilities and strategic trade opportunities. and expand collaboration in strategic value chains.

1.2.2 Engage in discussions on Blue Valleys for selected strategic value chains to accelerate private sector engagement through investment facilitation, standard alignment, and structured business collaboration.

1.2.3 Broaden discussions on economic security within the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) to issues such as research security and protection of sensitive technologies.  

1.2.4 Implement the EU-India Semiconductor Memorandum of Understanding, strengthen the resilience of semiconductor supply chains and promote mutually beneficial collaboration in research and development for chip design, heterogeneous integration, sustainable semiconductor technologies and technology development for semi-conductor manufacturing.

1.2.5 Develop further cooperation to scale up climate action in the light of national circumstances, including in all relevant energy sectors.

1.2.6 Deepen collaboration, including through a joint reflection paper, on early warning systems for active pharmaceutical ingredients, contingency planning in agrifood supply chains, and to advance bio-manufacturing and other areas of biotechnology.

1.2.7 Cooperate with the aim of developing resilient, secure and diversified critical minerals supply chains for energy transition and sustainable industrial ecosystems.

1.3. Advancing the clean transition and resilience

1.3.1 Strengthen cooperation under the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, including through energy technologies, smart grids, storage, electricity sector regulation, energy and climate diplomacy.

1.3.2 Reactivate the Joint Working Group on Energy Security under the EU-India Energy Panel which would inter-alia focus on dialogue on diversifying reliable and affordable energy sources and strengthen co-operation to promote energy efficiency improvement across sectors.

1.3.3 Organise an EU-India Wind Business Summit to foster business and expert exchanges on wind energy technologies, know-how, auction design, tendering, investment and financing, research and innovation, and testing and demonstration facilities.

1.3.4 Operationalise the EU-India Task Force on Green Hydrogen to foster cooperation on  hydrogen production, storage, and distribution to support efforts to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors.

1.3.5 Explore further cooperation in sustainable mobility including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Compressed Biogas (CBG), as well as on vehicles’ energy certification methodologies, e-mobility, and electric vehicle charging standards.

1.3.6 Pursue cooperation in the railway sector for the adoption of advanced rail standards focusing on High Speed, decarbonisation, digitalisation and automation of operation and Maintenance activities.

1.3.7 Pursue cooperation to support sustainable ship recycling activities, especially through the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and inclusion of Indian ship recycling yards which comply with the European Union Regulation on Ship Recycling in its list of ship recycling facilities.

1.3.8 Deepen cooperation under the EU-India Partnership on Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation including by furthering city-to-city cooperation and exchanges as well as investments.

1.3.9 Advance collaboration on sustainable finance instruments and corporate sustainability, including under the EU’s Global Green Bonds Initiative.

1.3.10 Work together to make power markets stronger, using tools such as contracts for difference, smart meter insights, and offtake agreements. Team up to make offtake deals easier and share know-how on technologies like electrolysers, fuel cells, and energy storage.

1.3.11 Cooperate on efforts towards industrial decarbonisation of heavy hard to abate energy intensive industries, including through exchanging best practices on low-carbon materials definitions such as steel and cement, while ensuring a level playing field.

1.3.12 Work towards sharing experiences on the design and implementation of India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), and the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and exploring further cooperation.

1.3.13 Deepen cooperation on climate adaptation and resilience for preventing and reducing climate risks, improving disaster preparedness and response capabilities, and strengthening infrastructure resilience, including through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

1.3.14 Deepen collaboration on water resilience and security within the India–EU Water Partnership through organisation of regular EU-India Joint Working Group on Water Cooperation.

1.3.15 Reinforce the Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy Partnership, including by establishing an EU-India Joint Working Group on Circular Economy.

1.3.16 Further strengthen exchanges through the bilateral Dialogue on Environment and explore options to resume the EU-India Environmental Forum to facilitate exchanges between government and business stakeholders.

1.3.17 Support sustainable agriculture and foster sustainable agrifood systems including through establishment of an Agrifood Policy Partnership Dialogue.

1.3.18 Advance bilateral cooperation on health including disease prevention, vaccines, preparedness, sharing of epidemic intelligence, wastewater surveillance, information and knowledge sharing and responsible data-sharing; enhance collaboration between disease control centres; and support sustainable and resilient health systems.

1.3.19 Implement the Administrative Arrangement on cooperation in disaster risk management to strengthen cooperation through policy dialogue, technical engagement, knowledge sharing, early-warning and emergency response.

2. TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

2.1 Supporting critical emerging technologies

2.1.1 Promote collaborative research focused on artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, advanced semiconductors, clean tech and biotech.

2.1.2 Set up EU-India Innovation Hubs, to support dialogue, knowledge exchange, and joint projects in critical emerging technologies, by bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, startups, investors, as well as civil society experts to identify shared priorities and catalyse innovation.

2.1.3 Advance promising technologies from early-stage collaboration to promote industrial deployment and accelerate private-sector engagement.

2.1.4 Establish an EU-India Startup Partnership in collaboration with the European Innovation Council, Start-up India, and Member States, to promote cross-border investment, co-creation, and deep-tech scale-ups between European and Indian SMEs, incubators and start-ups.

2.1.5 Cooperate on mutually beneficial research and development, reciprocal talent exchanges, and technological development of advanced semiconductors, focusing on design and prototyping for AI applications, leveraging inter alia Indian design strengths and EU research infrastructures.

2.1.6 Cooperate on strategic AI domains, including large language models, multilingual natural language processing datasets, AI training datasets, and AI solutions for public goods such as healthcare, agriculture, and climate action.

2.1.7 Develop trustworthy, sustainable, human-centric AI, including by strengthening collaboration between the European AI Office and India’s National AI Mission and India AI Safety Institute to expand AI safety, testing, and evaluation.

2.1.8 Expand joint activities under the EU-India Intent of Cooperation (IoC) on High-Performance Computing (HPC) to include reciprocal access to facilities, common benchmarking standards, co-developed applications in simulation, optimisation, and machine learning, researcher exchanges, joint doctoral programmes, and co-funding to accelerate hybrid workflows from proof-of-concept to production.

2.1.9 Deepen cooperation, through the EU-India Space Dialogue, in space technology including on earth observation, satellite navigation, space surveillance, and communication and advance collaboration including on space security.

2.1.10 Jointly undertake robust measures to protect critical technologies.

2.1.11 Pursue the ongoing dialogue on harmonising charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

2.2 Advancing a conducive digital environment

2.2.1 Deepen cooperation to create a trustworthy, secure, fair, and interoperable digital ecosystem, including by strengthened regulatory collaboration.

2.2.2 Strengthen engagements on robust data protection frameworks.

2.2.3 Promote fair digital markets, secure e-commerce, online privacy, legal certainty, product safety, corporate sustainability, and child protection, while combating illegal content and systemic risks in compliance with applicable national and international laws.

2.2.4 Strengthen mutual experience sharing on universal, meaningful, robust and secure digital infrastructure and collaborate to develop and promote secure and trusted telecommunications ecosystems including under the Memorandum of Understanding between India’s Bharat 6G alliance and the EU’s 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association.

2.2.5 Establish structured mechanisms for capacity building cooperation, knowledge sharing, and expert exchange programmes aimed at fostering innovation, standardisation, and inclusive digital growth.

2.2.6 Collaborate on digital public infrastructure (DPI), leveraging experience in e-Governance solutions, policies and standards and large-scale platforms to support financial inclusion, digital identity, and efficient public service delivery, and promote deployment of joint DPI solutions in third countries.

2.2.7 Explore technical interoperability, such as between the European Digital Wallet and India’s Digital Wallet, to facilitate cross-border trade, travel and data exchanges.

2.2.8 Implement the Administrative Arrangement on Advanced Electronic Signatures and Seals.

2.3 Promoting research cooperation

2.3.1 Deepen cooperation under the EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe,including in the fields of digital, energy, water, agrifood, health, semiconductors, biotech, advanced materials, particularly through mechanisms such as co-funding and coordinated calls.

2.3.2 Explore options for association of India to Horizon Europe to enable Indian researchers and institutions to participate on an equal footing with European partners in collaborative projects across the wide range of fields covered by the programme.

2.3.3 Promote collaboration on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the India-Euratom agreement on research and development activities in nuclear science and technology, advanced materials for detectors, radiation safety, nuclear security, non-power applications of atomic energy including cooperation on radio-pharmaceuticals and strengthen cooperation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

2.3.4 Establish and implement a comprehensive semiconductor collaboration framework encompassing joint research and development, reciprocal talent and skill exchanges, advanced semiconductor manufacturing and packaging, and strategic partnerships for resilient supply chain, thereby strengthening global ecosystem for advanced semiconductors focusing on design and prototyping for AI applications.

3. SECURITY AND DEFENCE

3.1 Bilateral cooperation

3.1.1 Implement the EU-India Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in security and defence, including maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space and counterterrorism.

3.1.2 Enhance the existing Security and Defence Consultations to an annual EU-India Security and Defence Dialogue through the SDP.

3.1.3 Conclude an EU-India Security of Information Agreement to facilitate exchanges of classified information and stronger security and defence cooperation.

3.2 Defence industrial cooperation

3.2.1 Consult on respective defence initiatives, including through exchanges on defence industry- related matters. Explore, where there are mutual interest and alignment of security priorities, possibilities for India’s participation in relevant EU defence initiatives, as appropriate, in line with respective legal frameworks.

3.2.2 Set up an industry-led India – EU Defence Industry Forum to bring together businesses from both sides, with official participation as observers and associating EU Member States, for further focused discussions on defence industry to explore opportunities.

3.3 Deepening engagement on regional security

3.3.1 Enhance cooperation to promote a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific built on international law and mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of disputes, underpinned by effective regional institutions and reflective of inter-regional linkages.

3.3.2 Pursue engagement through the EU’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), the India Ocean Rim Association (IORA), as a dialogue partner and in the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

3.3.3 Launch EU-India Consultations on the Indo-Pacific and explore cooperation through projects in third countries.

3.3.4 Intensify engagement and regular exchanges on regional and global issues, including on efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

3.4 Countering traditional and hybrid threats

3.4.1 Enhance cooperation to counter terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism, counter radicalisation and violent extremism, combat financing of terrorism, promote internationally agreed anti-money laundering standards, prevent exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, and tackle terrorist recruitment, including by building counter measures against terrorist propaganda and online radicalisation.

3.4.2 Enhance exchanges on hybrid threats and share best practices in developing strategies and policies to counter these threats.

3.4.3 Strengthen law enforcement cooperation through the implementation of the Working Arrangement between the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Europol, including both India’s connection to Europol’s Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) and the deployment of an Indian liaison officer at Europol’s HQ.

3.4.4 Explore cooperation between relevant Indian authorities and Eurojust and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

3.4.5 Enhance cooperation to dismantle illicit drug production and enhance coordination to prevent drug trafficking.

4. CONNECTIVITY AND GLOBAL ISSUES

4.1 Strengthening regional connectivity

4.1.1 Strengthen connectivity between Europe, India, and the wider world, upholding high standards while unlocking new commercial opportunities for Indian and EU businesses. Further implement the 2021 EU–India Connectivity Partnership including through Global Gateway and India’s MAHASAGAR, focusing on energy connectivity, transport and digital.

4.1.2 Deepen strategic collaboration under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to diversify trade routes, reduce strategic dependencies, promote regional integration, and future-proof supply chains, including support to infrastructure development, maritime, rail, digital, and energy.

4.1.3Advance the EU-Africa-India Digital Corridor within the framework of IMEC including through the Blue Raman submarine cable system to provide ultra-high-speed, secure, and diversified data connectivity resilient to disruptions caused by natural disasters or acts of sabotage.

4.1.4 Develop Green Shipping Corridors to strengthen sustainable maritime connectivity, reduce dependency on carbon-intensive shipping fuels and work together to achieve consensus based global low carbon maritime transport standards as well as work towards sustainable maritime transport solutions and joint development of green shipping shipbuilding ecosystem in India.

4.1.5 Establish a regular Dialogue on Aviation to explore ways to deepen market cooperation, expand direct connectivity, and strengthen sustainability cooperation in green aviation, and with a view to a possible Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement. The Dialogue will also include cooperation on aviation safety with a view to a possible Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement.

4.2 Promoting cooperation in third countries

4.2.1 Implement trilateral cooperation projects under the India–EU Administrative Arrangement on Trilateral Cooperation, in areas such as energy, climate resilience, green mobility, and digitalisation.

4.2.2 Strengthen cooperation on resilient clean energy technologies and supply chains in third countries, leverage ongoing collaboration under the International Solar Alliance towards making solar energy technology more accessible and affordable worldwide.

4.2.3 Strengthen engagement with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure through respective support to CDRI initiatives aiming at promoting Disaster Risk Reduction, building  infrastructure systems, in cooperation with existing initiatives to maximise efficiency, such as the Early Warnings for All, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

4.2.4 Enhance India–EU cooperation on Humanitarian Assistance founded on mutually recognised humanitarian principles to ensure better coordination on the ground.

4.3 Shaping effective global governance

4.3.1 Enhance coordination, close cooperation and joint action in multilateral fora, including in the United Nations (UN) and the G20.

4.3.2 Engage on reform of multilateral institutions including the UN to make them more representative and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities.

4.3.3 Work together towards meaningful reform and strengthening of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to establish effective governance and an updated trade agenda.

4.3.4 Collaborate to build an inclusive and efficient international financial architecture, mobilise resources, advance Multilateral Development Bank reforms, and implement the Sevilla Commitment action plan.

4.3.5 Cooperate to effectively implement the Paris Agreement, the successive Conference of the Parties’ (COP) outcomes, and respective Nationally Determined Contributions.

4.3.6 Work towards effective implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; and advance the Global Water Agenda; constructively engage in the ongoing negotiations to develop  an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution  with a view to reaching consensus; and cooperate to attain global consensus on the adoption and further implementation of the International Maritime Organization Net-Zero Framework and collaborate with India in its Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

4.3.7 Strengthen the resilience of health systems, including by supporting primary health care and universal health coverage, enhancing regulatory cooperation and health security capacities, applying a One Health approach, and leveraging digital solutions.

4.3.8 Establish EU-India Ocean and Fisheries Dialogue, for enhanced cooperation on ocean governance, including sustainable fisheries management, and protection of marine biodiversity

4.3.9 Coordinate in UN and other multilateral AI discourses on governance towards a responsible, human-centric AI approach, among others, including by working together for a successful AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026.

4.3.10 Continue to engage on human rights in a bilateral and multilateral context, including through the regular EU-India human rights dialogue and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

4.3.11 Work together, respecting international rules, for a resilient global health architecture where relevant actors work in partnership, focusing on their core mandates and avoiding duplication, based on strong multilateral cooperation with a reformed World Health Organisation (WHO).

5. ENABLERS

5.1 Expanding skills mobility

5.1.1 Support mutually beneficial skills and talent mobility while managing migration issues effectively including countering irregular migration, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and cooperating on effective and timely return and readmission of irregular migrants, as outlined in the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility.

5.1.2 Launch the first pilot European Legal Gateway Office in India as a one-stop hub to provide information and support the movement of workers to the EU, starting with the ICT sector.

5.1.3 Implement the EU-India Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility, involving interested Member States, in line with the national competences of EU Member States and the legislation of both Parties, support skills development and compare skills and qualification frameworks. Make full use of the EU Talent Pool IT platform, when available, to facilitate the recruitment of workers in shortage occupations.

5.1.4 Further modernise and simplify Schengen visa procedures through the upcoming digitalisation of visa procedures, once it enters into operation, while jointly addressing the challenges of visa fraud and document verification.

5.1.5 Strengthen mobility exchanges of students, academics and researchers through initiatives such as the Union of Skills, Erasmus+, including Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programmes, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), along with Indian funding programmes, such as the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).

5.1.6 Initiate high-level Education and Skills Dialogue to bring together policymakers, quality assurance authorities, education institutions, and training providers, promoting a seamless flow of talent.

5.1.7 Facilitate recognition of qualifications and learning periods abroad to support systemic collaboration in higher and vocational education, enabling joint programmes, satellite campuses, and language training in India.

5.1.8 Facilitate Indian institutions joining Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence as associated partners and EU participants gaining easier access to India’s mobility, scholarship, and education programmes and experience sharing on apprenticeships.

5.1.9 Strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector aimed at boosting two-way sustainable tourism cooperation, including by sharing best practices.

5.1.10 Support skills development and technical qualifications across EU and India in critical tech areas and support mobility schemes under Horizon Europe and Indian fellowship programmes.

5.1.11 Both sides will work towards promoting equal opportunities for both women and men and achieving gender-balance across all pillars.

5.2 Promoting mutual understanding

5.2.1 Promote research on contemporary India in Europe and on the EU in India to help deepen knowledge, inform better decision-making and strengthen public awareness including through establishing a new dedicated Jean Monnet network for India under the Erasmus+ programme.

5.2.2 Create collaborative platforms to pair leading think tanks and academic institutions covering both regions to provide structured opportunities for dialogue with regular high-level participation from both sides in Track 1.5 dialogues, including strengthening the existing Track 1.5 Strategic Dialogue.

5.2.3 Promote two way cultural and language exchanges to increase mutual understanding between the EU and India. Expand initiatives such as Film and Literature Festivals featuring authors, artists, and interactive two-way cultural exchanges.

5.2.4 Strengthen professional expertise on India and the EU through exchanges between early career diplomats and contact between emerging leaders and young professionals.

5.3 Involving business communities

5.3.1 Promote cooperation among business associations focused on the development of trade and investment between the EU and India.

5.3.2 Establish an EU-India Business Forum to meet regularly to provide valuable business perspectives to inform policymaking and deepen industry input across TTC work strands.

5.4 Reinforcing institutional architecture

5.4.1 Endeavour to hold EU-India Summits annually and increase bilateral contacts through new dialogues and on the sidelines of international fora.

5.4.2 Further strengthen the profile and purview of the TTC including through incorporating a business dimension.

5.4.3 Review progress on implementation of this Joint Strategic Agenda through the EU-India TTC for the pillars of prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation and through the India – EU Strategic Dialogue at the Ministerial level for the pillars of security and defence, connectivity and global issues. The Strategic Partnership Review (SPR) meeting could act as the joint implementation committee to monitor progress at senior officials’ level and report to the aforesaid ministerial fora.

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This Joint Agenda creates no financial commitments and establishes no legally binding rights or obligations under domestic or international law. Upon adoption, it supersedes the EU–India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025.