Brussels, 22 November, 2024: The European Union and India held the 5th Strategic Partnership Review Meeting on 22 November in Brussels. The EU side was led by Simon Mordue, Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues, European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Indian side was led by Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs.
The 10th EU-India Foreign Policy and Security Consultations and the 10th EU-India Energy Panel were also convened on 21 November 2024. Secretary (West) also met Stefano Sannino, Secretary General, EEAS. The meetings were held during the 20th anniversary year of the India-EU Strategic Partnership and in the backdrop of intensification of engagement between India and the EU and its member states.
The meetings assessed the full spectrum of the bilateral cooperation between India and EU and the implementation of the detailed commitments set out in the ‘India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025’ agreed during the 15th India – EU Summit in 2020. The exchanges also focused on future priorities for EU-India ties and the new impetus in relations. The commitment by President von der Leyen in the Political Guidelines for 2024-2029 to develop a new EU-India strategic agenda was welcomed.
The discussions focussed on a broad range of topics, including economic security, green transition, defence and security cooperation, migration, mobility, EU-India Connectivity Partnership, Global Gateway, and IMEC. Both sides also discussed furthering cooperation in the sphere of innovation, science and technology, including positive developments in the context of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC), and the opportunities to increase people-to-people contacts in education and research.
They also took stock of the ongoing negotiations for Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and Agreement on Geographical Indications and agreed on their importance. They welcomed cooperation at the multilateral level and appreciated the regular bilateral dialogue on economic issues, including on resilient supply chains in the context of the TTC. Both sides looked forward to a successful second TTC Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi in 2025. They looked forward to the next edition of the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue.
The EU and India welcomed their partnership on global matters, enhanced cooperation in the multilateral system (including G20) and on humanitarian issues, including disaster risk management in third countries. Both sides unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border attacks.
Both sides underlined the importance of the India–EU Strategic Partnership in addressing global challenges. They reiterated their shared commitment to promoting a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. India welcomed the European Union’s increasing engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides emphasized that the rules-based international order must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes. They underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law and consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. They expressed their deep concern at the situation in the Middle East/West Asia and underlined the need for early restoration of peace and stability.
The two sides looked forward to the convening of the next India-EU Summit in 2025 and the valuable opportunity this would afford to advance relations.
