India-EU ties at ‘new level’: Partnership is limitless and ambitious, says EU envoy Herve Delphin

European Union Ambassador Herve Delphin on Friday said the India-EU partnership has reached a “totally new level” in both strategic and qualitative terms, describing the relationship as “limitless, ambitious and progressive”, PTI reported. Addressing the Europe Day celebrations in the national capital, Delphin said the India-EU partnership is becoming increasingly significant for the 21st century, with both sides committed to expanding ties across multiple sectors. “We have placed our relationship to a totally new level, in qualitative and strategic terms. The EU-India partnership is limitless, ambitious and progressive,” Delphin said. “These achievements would not have been possible without the political conviction and trust shared by our leaders,” he added. The envoy described the India-EU summit held around three-and-a-half months ago as a major milestone, saying it combined symbolism, substance and strategic significance. He cited the unveiling of a joint strategic agenda for the next five years, progress on a free trade agreement (FTA), the signing of a security and defence partnership pact, and movement on a mobility framework as key outcomes of the summit. “The India-EU partnership is truly consequential for the 21st century,” Delphin said. Calling the current phase the “Europe-India moment”, the ambassador said ties between India and the EU and its member states were deepening “like never before”. The event was attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, diplomats, academicians and foreign policy experts. The envoy also referred to the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa as chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations earlier this year. The proposed India-EU free trade agreement has often been described as the “mother of all” trade deals. “We are already India’s leading trading partner. With the FTA in place, we expect our two-way trade to double in value in the next years,” Delphin said. Referring to a recent report titled “EU business economic footprint in India”, he said nearly 6,000 EU companies operate in India, generating close to six million jobs and exporting nearly 25 billion euros worth of goods from India globally. The EU remains India’s largest trading partner in goods. During 2024-25, bilateral goods trade stood at around $136 billion, including Indian exports worth about $76 billion and imports worth $60 billion. Delphin also spoke about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “not an era of war” message strongly resonated with Europe. “This message of (PM Modi) — ‘not an era of war’ deeply resonates with Europe’s values and identity,” he said. “The EU is fundamentally a peace project, turning the back on centuries of continental wars,” he added.