The mango that broke a market
It is peak mango season in India. The Alphonso harvest is at its richest, the Kesar at its most fragrant.
The ties between India and the European Union (EU) encompass a broad spectrum, including trade and investment, security and defence, climate action and clean energy, digital transition, connectivity, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
“India and the European Union are seeking to advance long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and adopt a new Joint Strategic Agenda to steer the partnership beyond the existing roadmap. This ongoing engagement underscores a mutual commitment across trade, investment, clean and green energy, science and technology, security and defence, digital initiatives, connectivity, space, and agriculture,” the government said on Saturday.
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The relationship between India and the European Union rests on shared values and principles, including democracy, rule of law, a rules-based international order, and commitment to effective multilateralism. Both the sides are close to finalising a landmark FTA, with the formal announcement expected on Tuesday, a day after the Republic Day celebrations, which will be attended by the top EU leadership as chief guests.
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According to sources, the 16th India-EU summit, scheduled for January 27, will witness the successful conclusion of FTA negotiations. A document will be adopted by the both sides to announce the conclusion of FTA negotiations, after which the agreement will be put through the required legal process and ratification by the European Parliament and Council, they said.
The India-EU relations have evolved into a strong and forward-looking partnership based on shared values, growing economic ties, and common strategic interests. Hence, the EU remains India’s largest trading partner for goods, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $136 billion in 2024-25. It is also among India’s top overall trading partners in both goods and services.
The relations have entered a phase of renewed strategic momentum, with both sides intensifying engagement ahead of the forthcoming India-EU Summit in New Delhi, the government said.
Rising trade, steady EU investments, and cooperation in areas such as connectivity, clean energy, digital technologies, security, and labour mobility reflect a partnership that is producing clear and practical outcomes. Initiatives such as the Trade and Technology Council, the Global Gateway, IMEC, and progress in FTA negotiations reflect deepening institutional alignment between India and the EU.
Building on this momentum, India’s invitation to the President of the European Council, Mr. António Luís Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, for a State Visit from 25 to 27 January underscores government’s intent to elevate the relationship to a core pillar of its global and European strategy.
Trade has been a cornerstone of the relationship with the EU emerging as a significant partner. The bilateral merchandise trade between India and EU has grown substantially, reaching $136 billion in 2024-25, with EU exports to India including machinery, transport equipment, and chemicals, and imports from India featuring machinery, chemicals, base metals, mineral products, and textiles.
Moreover, from 2019 to 2024, India-EU bilateral trade in services exhibited steady growth, with Indian exports increasing from EUR 19 billion in 2019 to EUR 37 billion in 2024. Further, imports from the EU also saw an increase, reaching EUR 29 billion in 2024.
Early migration dialogues have progressed into structured frameworks like the 2016 Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM), emphasizing skilled worker flows, social security, and orderly migration to meet EU demographic needs and India’s workforce surplus. The 9th High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility (November 2025) advanced implementation, proposing a pilot European Legal Gateway Office in India for ICT professionals and exploring comprehensive mobility frameworks for young professionals. At the end of 2024, a total of 931,607 Indian citizens resided in the EU, the largest group (20.8%) for Blue Cards holders, (16,268 in 2024).
Indian students have been among the top recipients of the Erasmus Mundus scholarships. In the last 20 years, over 6,000 scholarships have been awarded to Indian students for studying and working at leading institutions across Europe. Strategically, this supports India’s diplomatic outreach through migration partnerships enhancing human-centric ties and global talent flows amid expansions like new European missions. India’s advancements are evident in streamlined legal pathways and qualification recognition, positioning it as a key talent source for both India and EU nations.
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