India-Europe Partnership and European Commission Delegation Visit

 

1. A delegation of 22 European Commission (EC) members of 27, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, visited New Delhi for a 2-day visit in February 2025.
2. This is the 1st-ever visit by the full College of Commissioners since taking office in December 2024, and the 1st time they have visited India together.
3. The visit marks a new phase in India-EU relations as both enter the third decade of their Strategic Partnership.
    

Significance of the Visit:
 

Sector	Initiative	Key Focus Areas & Objectives	Key Figures/Details
Strategic Cooperation & Global Governance	EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025	Strengthen trade, investment, digitalization, climate change, security, global governance, and climate resilience.	Focus on sustainable growth and technological advancement.
Energy & Climate Action	EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership	Collaboration in renewable energy, smart grids, clean technology financing, climate adaptation, and mitigation.	Enhances India’s role in global green transition.
	EU-India Green Hydrogen Partnership	Promote green hydrogen and offshore wind energy. Develop policy frameworks, pilot projects, and support clean energy goals.	€1 billion fund from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support clean energy.
	Sustainable Consumption & Production (SWITCH-Asia Programme)	Eco-friendly manufacturing, waste management, and sustainable consumer practices. Advancing circular economy initiatives.	Reduces environmental footprint.
Trade & Economic Cooperation	EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC)	Enhances digital governance, trade resilience, and green technology partnerships. Focus on supply chain diversification and reducing economic dependence on single-market sources.	Aims for future-ready economies with strong trade and technology collaboration.
	Global Green Bonds Initiative	Promote green bonds for financing sustainable infrastructure and climate projects. Strengthen climate finance frameworks to attract private investments in clean energy.	Supports green infrastructure and renewable energy.
Sustainable Urbanization & Connectivity	EU-India Connectivity Partnership	Enhance digital and physical infrastructure, improve supply chains, logistics, transport networks, and cross-regional economic integration.	Strengthens urban mobility and economic ties between India and Europe.
	India-EU Urban Forum	Facilitates dialogue on best practices and innovative approaches for sustainable urban development.	Focus on creating smarter, greener, and more inclusive urban spaces.
Social Development & Gender Equality	WeEmpower India Initiative	Strengthens gender equality and women's participation in clean energy and sustainable industries. Supports female entrepreneurship and inclusive business models.	Boosts women’s economic participation in green and sustainable industries.

 

Historical Context:

 

1. Diplomatic Relations:
    
   1. India and the European Economic Community (EEC) established diplomatic relations in 1962, the precursor to the EU.
   2. 1993 Joint Political Statement and 1994 Cooperation Agreement laid the foundation for further strengthening ties.
       
2. Strategic Partnership:
    
   1. The Strategic Partnership was formalized during the 5th India-EU Summit in 2004 (held in The Hague).
       
   2. 15 Summits held between India and the EU since 2000, with India-EU relations being upgraded progressively.
       
3. Bilateral Engagement:
    
   1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EC President Ursula von der Leyen have met at least 7 times.
   2. President von der Leyen visited India in April 2022, participating in the Raisina Dialogue as Chief Guest.
       

Trade and Economic Relations:
 

1. Bilateral Trade in Goods:
   1. $135 billion in FY 2023-24 (90% increase over the past decade).
   2. Indian Exports to the EU: $76 billion.
   3. Indian Imports from the EU: $59 billion.
2. Trade in Services:
   1. Total services trade in 2023: $53 billion.
   2. Indian Exports: $30 billion.
   3. Indian Imports: $23 billion.
3. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):
   1. FDI from the EU (April 2000 - September 2024): $117.4 billion (16.6% of total FDI equity inflows).
   2. Indian FDI outflows to the EU: $40.04 billion (April 2000 to March 2024).
       

Technological Cooperation:
 

1. India-EU Science and Technology Cooperation:
   1. Bilateral cooperation operates under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (2007).
       
   2. Key Technological Initiatives:
      • Semiconductor R&D: MoU signed in November 2023 for joint R&D efforts.
      • Artificial Intelligence (AI): Participation in the Global AI Summit in New Delhi (2023).
      • High-Performance Computing (HPC): Intent of Cooperation signed in November 2022.
         
2. Technology Development:
   1. The technology partnership is a countermeasure to China's technological dominance, particularly in critical technologies like semiconductors and AI.
       

Green Energy Solutions:
 

1. India-EU Green Hydrogen Cooperation:
   1. India was the exclusive partner at European Hydrogen Week in Brussels (November 2024).
   2. The EU played a key role in the International Conference on Green Hydrogen held in Delhi (September 2024).
   3. The European Investment Bank has committed €1 billion to support Indian hydrogen projects.
       
2. Green Hydrogen Ecosystem:
   1. India’s target: Develop a green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030 with European collaboration, particularly in renewable energy.
       

People-to-People Ties:
 

1. Indian Diaspora in the EU:
   1. Significant growth in the Indian community, especially among students, researchers, and skilled professionals.
   2. Erasmus Scholarships: Over 6,000 scholarships awarded to Indian students in the last 20 years, making them one of the top recipients.
   3. Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions: 2,700 Indian researchers funded under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme since 2014.
       
2. EU Blue Cards:
   1. 20% of all EU Blue Cards issued in 2023-24 went to Indian professionals.
       

Defence and Space Cooperation:
 

1. Defence Cooperation:
   1. Focus on maritime security and the Indo-Pacific region, under the Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia+ security programme.
   2. The 1st joint naval exercises were conducted in October 2023 in the Gulf of Guinea.
   3. Growing cooperation on global security, counter-terrorism, piracy, and natural disaster management.
       
2. Space Cooperation:
   1. ISRO and the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated on:
      • PSLV launch for the PROBA-3 mission in December 2024.
      • Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions.
   2. MoU signed for cooperation on India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

 

About European Union (EU)   The European Union (EU) is a unique political and economic union of 27 member states. The United Kingdom left the EU on January 31, 2020, in a process known as Brexit.   Core Purpose and Principles: The EU was founded with the primary goal of fostering peace and preventing future wars in Europe, particularly after World War II. It aims to promote economic and social progress through cooperation. The EU is founded on values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Key Features: Single market allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within the EU. Institutions: The EU has several key institutions, including: The European Parliament: Directly elected by EU citizens. The European Council: Comprising the heads of state or government of EU countries. The European Commission: The EU's executive branch. The Court of Justice of the European Union: Ensures EU law is applied uniformly. Eurozone: A monetary union of those EU member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency. Policies: The EU has common policies in various areas, including: Trade Agriculture Environment Justice and home affairs Historical Context: The EU's origins can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II, with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951. The Maastricht Treaty in 1993 officially established the European Union.