India and the EU Step Up Implementation of Their Strategic Partnership
Diplomats from India and the European Union met in Brussels on Sunday, 20 September 2026, to discuss the next steps in their bilateral Strategic Partnership. The talks focused on improving cooperation between their parliaments and putting shared goals into action to benefit both regions. Leading the discussions were India’s Ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Pranay Verma, and Pietro Ducci, the Director-General for External Policies in the European Parliament.
The Indian Embassy in Belgium shared an update on the meeting, calling the dialogue highly productive. The embassy stated, "Ambassador Pranay Verma met Mr. Pietro Ducci, Director-General for External Policies in the European Parliament. They had a fruitful exchange of views on India-EU inter-parliamentary engagement, high-level exchanges and implementation of priorities under the India-EU Strategic Partnership".
Trade, Technology, and Security
This weekend's meeting follows a busy summer of diplomatic visits. In July, India's Foreign Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, travelled to Belgium for the third India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting. While in Brussels, he met with European Council President Antonio Costa, passing on greetings from India's Prime Minister.
Speaking about the meeting, Dr Jaishankar noted, "Joined my colleagues to recognise the significant progress in our partnership since the landmark India-EU summit earlier this year. Valued his guidance and warm sentiments for advancing our trade and technology cooperation".
The diplomats also took time to discuss international security. Dr Jaishankar met with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to talk about stability in West Asia and the importance of keeping maritime trade routes open and safe. He mentioned that they spoke about taking the India-EU Strategic Partnership further to ensure supply chains remain resilient against global disruptions.
Green Energy and Research Goals
Protecting the environment and developing new technologies are major priorities for both India and the EU. Dr Jaishankar also met with Ekaterina Zaharieva, the EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, to discuss how the two regions can work together on clean energy.
Following their conversation, India's Foreign Minister shared, "Discussed opportunities for research in clean and green energy technologies, innovation hubs, startups and association with Horizon Europe".
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s massive EUR 93.5 billion funding programme for research and innovation, and India's potential association with it is a major step forward. Even before any formal agreement is signed, the EU and India are already putting a combined EUR 60 million into joint research projects. This money will fund work on pressing environmental issues, such as recycling batteries for electric vehicles, creating renewable hydrogen from waste, and cleaning up plastic pollution in the oceans.
Trade Routes and Connectivity
Improving physical and economic connections between the regions is another key focus. Dr Jaishankar held a dedicated meeting with Jozef Sikela, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, to talk about expanding infrastructure networks.
Sharing an update on these discussions, Dr Jaishankar stated, "We spoke about advancing our cooperation in connectivity, trilateral partnerships, IMEC and green shipping". The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, usually referred to as IMEC, is a planned trade route aimed at speeding up transit times between Asia and Europe while boosting local economies and making maritime commerce safer.
A Twenty-Year Bond
These recent talks build on a relationship that has been growing for over two decades. India and the EU officially upgraded their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2004 during a summit in The Hague.
Since then, the two sides have bonded over a shared belief in democracy, the rule of law, and a rules-based international order. Today, their partnership has grown well beyond basic trade, expanding into defence, technology, and green energy as they work together to navigate global challenges.
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