India‑EU Trade and Technology Council meeting advances trade, tech and clean‑energy cooperation

India and the European Union held the third meeting of their Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels. The session was co‑chaired by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Minister of State Jitin Prasada, with EU counterparts including Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič and Henna Virkkunen. The council reviewed progress in three working groups – strategic technologies, clean and green technologies, and trade, investment and resilient value chains – and announced new initiatives on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, green hydrogen, electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure and a joint India‑EU Innovation Hub.

Key outcomes included the conclusion of a work programme on foreign‑direct‑investment screening, with Goyal stating, “We have concluded a work program on foreign direct investment screening… it will help further speed up the flow of investments on both sides.” The partners also agreed to start formal negotiations for India’s association with the EU Horizon Europe research programme and to sign the India‑EU free‑trade agreement by the end of 2026, aiming for implementation in early 2027.

Alongside the TTC, bilateral meetings were held with Belgium, Finland and Spain, where Goyal discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, digitalisation, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. These engagements underscored the broader push to deepen economic ties under the EU‑India strategic partnership.