SYLLABUS

GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. 

Context: 

Recently, the European Council has approved a ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors and expedite the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2025.

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• The Belgium-based European Council underlined the shared capacity and responsibility of the EU and India to uphold multilateralism and the rules-based international order, centered on the United Nations Charter, as well as the multilateral trading system, in particular the World Trade Organization (WTO).

New Strategic EU-India Agenda 

• Key Areas of cooperation: Itidentifies priority areas like prosperity and sustainable development, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues.
• Economic cooperation: It seeks to establish a balanced and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement that focuses on expanding market access, eliminating trade barriers, and incorporating environmental and social sustainability provisions.
• Defence Cooperation: The framework aims to promote deeper cooperation in defence and security by establishing a formal security and defence partnership and encouraging collaboration in defence industrial development and maritime awareness.
• It emphasises the importance of shared democratic values, respect for international law, and protection of human rights including the rights of women and children as guiding principles of the partnership.
• Connectivity: The agenda promotes connectivity and infrastructure development between Europe and India through sustainable transport systems and digital initiatives aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
• Future-oriented partnership: It focuses on cooperation in emerging areas such as green energy transition, climate action, and digital transformation to build resilience against global challenges.
• Global stability: The agenda reaffirms the shared responsibility of both partners to safeguard multilateralism and the rules based international order under the framework of the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation.

Source:
The Hindu
The Print
Eu-India.Org
Consilium .Europa