Brussels/New Delhi, Oct 19 (FN Agency) India and the EU on Tuesday discussed the next steps to operationalise the decision of Indian and EU Leaders to resume negotiations for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement, and launch negotiations on a stand-alone investment protection agreement and on a separate agreement on geographical indications. Holding talks during the Third India-EU Strategic Partnership Review in Brussels, the two sides also discussed the next steps on the implementation of the India-EU Connectivity Partnership which was agreed at the May 2021 Leaders’ Meeting. One of the major outcomes of the landmark summit in May this year between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the EU 27 leaders was the resumption of the FTA negotiations that were stalled from 2013.
The negotiations over the FTA had collapsed in 2013 after 16 rounds due to disagreement over various issues. At the May summit India and the EU had also decided to launch negotiations for a stand-alone investment protection agreement and an agreement on geographical indications. Another key outcome was the EU-India Connectivity Partnership. At the Third India-EU Strategic Partnership Review in Brussels on Tuesday, India and the EU also discussed ways to further cooperate in the areas of research, technology and digital transformation, as well as continued implementation of the Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, an official statement said. The two sides exchanged views concerning the best ways to join forces in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on economies, societies as well as individuals. Following the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting of 8th May 2021, which set a clear path for further deepening ties between India and the EU, the meeting allowed for a comprehensive review of the Strategic India-EU Partnership, guided by the India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025.
The discussions focused notably on cooperation in addressing the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and contributing to the success of the upcoming Climate COP26 in Glasgow next month. Recalling the successful 9th India-EU Human Rights Dialogue in April 2021, India and the EU looked forward to the next edition of the Dialogue in 2022. The meeting was co-chaired by Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, and Helena König, Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues, European External Action Service.