A key panel of the European Union (EU) will visit India next week to push forward discussions on the long-pending bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). With just over two months remaining before the deadline set by leaders of both sides to finalise the deal, the visit is seen as a crucial step toward bridging remaining gaps in negotiations.

A seven-member delegation from the EU Committee on International Trade will be in India from October 27 to 29 to discuss trade, investment, and economic cooperation. The team will be led by Cristina Maestre, the committee’s standing rapporteur for India, along with Brando Benifei.

“The main objective of this visit is to contribute to increasing our mutual understanding amid intensive trade negotiations between the EU and India,” Maestre and Benifei said in a joint statement. “The mission is timely, taking place just a few months ahead of the deadline to conclude negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2025. We look forward to discussing the issues at stake as both sides share a mutual interest in reaching a meaningful bilateral agreement and in protecting the rules-based multilateral trade order.”

During their visit, the delegation will hold meetings with key Indian stakeholders to gather first-hand insights on the opportunities and challenges in the ongoing negotiations. Their schedule includes meetings with government ministers, members of Parliament, the Federation of European Business in India, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The delegation will also engage with civil society organisations working on sustainability, labour rights, and employment issues.

The International Trade Committee of the European Parliament has been closely monitoring the progress of the India-EU FTA talks. Any final agreement reached between the two sides will require the consent of the European Parliament before it can take effect.

Negotiations between India and the EU have been ongoing since 2007 but gained renewed momentum over the past two years. The 14th round of talks concluded in Brussels on October 10, focusing on key pillars of the proposed agreement. According to an EU statement, “some progress was made in outstanding areas, particularly on the SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) chapter, which was closed.” Discussions also advanced on the rules of origin, a key issue in determining product eligibility for trade benefits.

Going forward, negotiations will take the form of continuous, intensive engagement at the level of chief negotiators and technical experts, both virtually and in person, with political-level discussions continuing in parallel.

The renewed push for the FTA follows a February visit to India by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU College of Commissioners, during which she and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to target year-end 2025 for concluding the deal. The agreement has gained greater urgency amid growing global trade uncertainties, especially following shifts in US tariff policies.

Currently, India ranks as the EU’s ninth-largest trading partner, accounting for 2.2% of the EU’s total trade in goods in 2023. Meanwhile, the EU remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade worth €124 billion and services trade reaching €59.7 billion in 2023.