The European Union (EU) and India organised today, in the framework of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council’s Working Group on Green and Clean Energy technologies, an online workshop on "Assessment and Monitoring Tools for Marine Plastic Litter” to address plastic pollution and discuss innovative monitoring solutions, focused on new digital tools for assessing plastic waste, and to highlight India’s unique challenges in combating plastic litter. It brought together around 40 Indian researchers and officials with EU experts.

The event was opened by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and Ms. Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission. Dr. Maini emphasised that "this partnership between India and the EU on plastic litter monitoring and reduction is not only timely but essential for developing solutions that are globally impactful and locally viable." Ms. Ratso highlighted that the workshop "shows the excellent cooperation between the EU and India in sharing technological innovations and discussing matters of common interest in the framework of the recently established Trade and Technology Council."

EU experts from the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe EUROqCHARM and PlasticTrace projects presented e-learning tools developed to assist in monitoring plastic litter. Indian experts presented the Indian context, needs and challenges. 

Indian participants shared feedback on the e-learning tools and discussed possible collaboration to enhance efforts in combating plastic pollution. As a follow-up, the India and EU sides announced an upcoming “Ideathon” initiative, aimed at fostering innovation and strengthening cooperation in tackling plastic pollution.

The workshop witnessed active participation from all participants, marking a significant step in the shared mission of addressing environmental challenges through technology, innovation, and international cooperation.

About the EU-India Trade & Technology Council

The India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was first announced by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in April 2022. Established on February 6, 2023, this strategic coordination mechanism allows both sides to tackle challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology, and security, and deepens cooperation in these fields. Establishing India-EU TTC is a key step towards a strengthened strategic partnership for the benefit of all people in India and the EU.

The TTC is a key forum to deepen the strategic partnership on trade and technology between the two partners. Geostrategic challenges have reinforced the EU and India’s common interest in ensuring security, prosperity, and sustainable development based on shared values.

The first ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) took place in Brussels on 16 May 2023. The TTC consists of three Working Groups:

• Working Group 1 on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity
• Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
• Working Group 3 on Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains

The three Working Groups are now jointly working to advance identified objectives and key actions. The India-EU TTC Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies is being led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission.

The EU-India Trade and Technology Council has become a bedrock of bilateral scientific and technological cooperation. Successful completion of this workshop on Assessment and Monitoring Tools for Marine Plastic Litter one of the agreed short-term actions under Working Group 2, has just added another milestone to this engagement.

Both sides expect to report at the next TTC Meeting at Ministerial level in 2025 on the progress made since the setting up of the TTC. They also expect that the mandate for continued and strengthened EU-India cooperation in research and innovation may be renewed by President Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi at the next EU-India summit in 2025.