From Vision to Action: Ambassador Delphin on Advancing EU-India Business and Textiles Collaboration

Ambassador H.E. Hervé Delphin's keynote address at the India's World Magazine Event delivered compelling insights into the evolving dynamics between the European Union and India, emphasizing unprecedented strategic alignment and mutual opportunities for transformative cooperation.

Strategic Options for Risk Mitigation

Delphin outlined how the EU and India "offer to each other important strategic options" to address current uncertainties. The partnership provides opportunities to "de-risk the economic turmoil and the security uncertainties" while enabling both partners to "tap into our complementarities and combine respective strengths and scale to serve each other's interests".

This strategic reassessment prompted the EU's decision to relaunch Free Trade Agreement negotiations and propose the Trade and Technology Council in April 2022. The Ambassador noted that few observers initially recognized the significance of India being designated as a priority in President von der Leyen's July 2024 Political Guidelines for the New Commission.

Demonstrating Commitment Through Action

The EU's commitment extends beyond statements to concrete actions. Ambassador Delphin highlighted how the EU "literally walks its talk" through high-level engagements. The February 2025 visit of the President with the College of Commissioners and the September 2025 visit of EU Political & Security Committee Ambassadors represent "powerful political messages of confidence and readiness from the EU side to engage".

These initiatives demonstrate maturity in strategic discussions, exemplified by the first Strategic Dialogue between High Representative Kallas and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in June 2025. The Ambassador emphasized strong leadership support from both President Costa, President von der Leyen, EU Member States, and Prime Minister Modi, who referred to the EU and India as "natural strategic partners".

Economic Scale and Global Significance

The partnership's global implications are substantial. As Ambassador Delphin noted, "EU and India together represent close to 25% of world GDP, 25% of world population". The EU serves as India's biggest trading partner in goods, creating a foundation for expanded cooperation.

Both partners function as "cooperative global actors committed to rules-based approaches and rules-based order". This shared commitment provides a platform for addressing global challenges while advancing respective international aspirations.

Values-Based Foundation Amid Differences

The Ambassador addressed areas of convergence and divergence with diplomatic sensitivity. On "questions of democracy and human rights," he stated that "Europe and India are what they are because of their belief in democracy, human rights, individual dignity and equality, putting people at the centre".

Both regions celebrate rich cultures representing "multifaceted civilisational expression of our diversity", being "both unique and diverse; and both united in our own diversity". These shared values provide foundational elements for partnership while acknowledging that such values face current threats requiring cultivation for mutual benefit.

Implementation Focus and Concrete Deliverables

The Ambassador emphasized the critical importance of "agency to deliver" concrete results rather than bureaucratic processes. He noted that the current joint roadmap contains 118 actions with an 80+ percent completion rate, but suggested there were "probably too many actions, not necessarily all formulated in terms of real deliverables".

Future cooperation requires focus on concrete targets, including completing FTA negotiations and developing a new EU-India Strategic Roadmap for endorsement at the next summit in early 2026.

Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement

Delphin called for stronger involvement of various stakeholders beyond government institutions. "Think tanks and experts" will play important roles in "circulation of ideas, distilling analyses that can inform policy deliberations". He emphasized the need to "increase our mutual literacy on each other," noting a shortage of Indian experts in Brussels and European expertise in Delhi.

Creating greater familiarity remains critical for updating knowledge and developing mutual understanding, particularly regarding the EU's stance on China and India's engagement with the Global South through initiatives like BRICS and SCO.

Textile Sector Opportunities Within Strategic Framework

While the Ambassador's address focused on broader strategic themes, the implications for India's textile sector are significant within the five-pillar framework. The emphasis on supply chain cooperation, clean transition initiatives, and regulatory expertise alignment creates pathways for textile industry development through sustainable practices and European market access.

The "trust and thrust in our relationship" can elevate cooperation to "a new strategic level, a truly transformative partnership pact". As Ambassador Delphin concluded, "This is Brussels' call to Delhi" - signaling unprecedented opportunities for strategic partnership across all sectors, including textiles.