New Delhi, December 8 — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met European Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in New Delhi on Monday as India and the EU prepare for a fresh round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. Jaishankar posted on X that it was a pleasure to receive Commissioner Šefčovič and expressed confidence that the commissioner’s team would have productive talks in India.
Officials told ANI that negotiating teams from India and the European Union will hold a two-day round of discussions beginning Monday and continuing through Tuesday. These talks are part of ongoing efforts to deepen economic ties; formal FTA negotiations were revived in June 2022 after a long hiatus.
EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin, speaking at India’s World Annual Conclave 2025 last week, described the current phase as “FTA negotiation 2.0,” stressing that this round represents a different approach from earlier efforts. He said the negotiations should not be viewed as a simple continuation of past talks and highlighted a growing sense of mutual necessity and complementarity between the two sides, echoed by a recent European Commission visit to India.
Delphin pointed to rising global trade tensions and tariff confrontations as factors increasing the urgency for a predictable, rules-based framework. He argued the FTA would be “more than trade,” helping both partners manage risk amid a fraught global economic environment. Noting the combined weight of the EU and India — about 25 percent of global GDP and population — he said an agreement between them would have significant global impact.
The ambassador also emphasized the long-term benefits seen in the EU’s past FTAs: expanded trade, job creation, and increased investment, arguing the outcomes have been mutually beneficial rather than zero-sum. He said there is strong political will to conclude negotiations by the end of the year and that both sides have shifted away from traditional formal rounds toward a continuous negotiating mode. Delphin added that roughly 40 European negotiators were expected in Delhi for the discussions.
(This report is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received.)
