India and the European Union took a significant step forward in their economic and technological partnership at the second meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) held in New Delhi on February 28, 2025. This high-level dialogue, co-chaired by key ministers from both sides, reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in strategic technologies, digital governance, green energy, and resilient value chains.
The India-EU TTC, established in April 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, serves as a crucial platform for addressing global trade and technology challenges. As two of the world’s largest democracies with shared values and open market economies, India and the EU are natural partners in fostering global stability, economic security, and sustainable growth. In an era of shifting geopolitical dynamics, both sides emphasized the importance of a rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty, and peaceful dispute resolution.
A major focus of the meeting was digital cooperation. Both sides reiterated their commitment to promoting a human-centric digital transformation, advancing AI, semiconductors, and next-generation connectivity technologies such as 6G. Recognizing the role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in building inclusive digital economies, India and the EU agreed to work towards interoperability of their DPIs while ensuring data privacy and intellectual property protection. Additionally, they pledged to collaborate on semiconductor supply chain resilience, joint R&D in chip design, and talent exchange programs to strengthen skills in the sector.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of responsible AI development. India’s AI Mission and the European AI Office agreed to deepen cooperation, particularly on large language models and ethical AI applications. A key milestone was the signing of an MoU between the Bharat 6G Alliance and the EU 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association, which will help align research priorities and ensure secure telecom infrastructure.
On the clean and green technology front, India and the EU reaffirmed their net-zero commitments—India aiming for 2070 and the EU for 2050. Both sides announced a joint research initiative with a budget of approximately €60 million to develop solutions for battery recycling, marine plastic litter mitigation, and waste-to-hydrogen conversion. The meeting also saw productive discussions on harmonizing standards for EV charging infrastructure, hydrogen safety, and wastewater treatment technologies.
Trade and investment were central to the discussions, particularly in the context of building resilient value chains. India and the EU committed to fostering transparency, diversification, and sustainability across key sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy. Progress was noted in easing market access barriers, with India facilitating EU plant product approvals and the EU expanding recognition of Indian aquaculture establishments. Both sides also pledged to continue discussions on regulatory challenges such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), with a focus on minimizing the impact on small and medium enterprises.
The meeting reinforced India and the EU’s commitment to multilateralism and WTO reforms to ensure a fair and effective global trading system. In light of increasing economic security concerns, both sides exchanged best practices on foreign direct investment screening and trade decarbonization strategies.
As the meeting concluded, both parties expressed optimism about the future of the India-EU partnership. They committed to maintaining regular engagements under the TTC framework and agreed to reconvene for the third ministerial meeting within the next year. This strengthened collaboration signals a promising path for mutual growth, innovation, and global leadership in trade and technology.
