Jaishankar expressed optimism about the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying that discussions have been positive and that the agreement is “within sight” of being finalised by the end of the year
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke at the German Marshall Fund Brussels Forum 2025, where he highlighted the importance of India’s relationship with the European Union.
Jaishankar stated that India gives “pretty high priority” to its relations with the EU, highlighting the growing interest in Europe over the past decade.
Jaishankar expressed optimism about the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying that discussions have been positive and that the agreement is “within sight” of being finalised by the end of the year.
Jaishankar said, “We are really looking to deepening our ties, the centrepiece is the FTA.”
He said his meetings have been very positive and noted that discussions took place on mobility and talent flows, education.
On the timeline for the fruition of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU, EAM Jaishankar noted that since the visit of the College of Commissioners in February, “A lot has been done and everything that I heard on this trip gives me the confidence that it’s within sight that by the end of this year it is feasible to do this”.
Jaishankar also addressed the trade tensions between the EU and the US, stating that India values its relations with both partners and will deal with each on terms that are mutually beneficial.
He acknowledged that Europe has distinct positions on many issues, which may not always align with those of the US.
Jaishankar said, “We see today that Europe has a distinct position on many issues, those are not necessarily the positions shared today in the United States, so that’s a reality. We value our relations with the US as we do with the EU we will deal with each one on terms which are best for both of us.”
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar reiterated India’s position that differences between countries cannot be settled by war and that negotiations are the best way forward.
He noted that while this position may not have been widely accepted initially, the world is now coming to terms with it.
“We have felt from the start, even if two countries have differences, it cannot be settled by the cause of war. Two, if the war has started, you cannot get solutions on the battlefield… the answer then is to negotiate. It makes sense to negotiate directly than through convoluted signalling. So that’s been our position.” He noted that although this position wasn’t widely accepted in 2022, the world is coming to terms with it now.”
Jaishankar is in Brussels where he has held several interactions with senior officials of the European Union. Discussions have seen positive developments on several fronts of the India-EU partnership.
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic wrote on X, “A valuable meeting with @DrSJaishankar, covering our efforts to elevate the EU-India partnership to the next level – through a commercially meaningful trade agreement. We keep our strategic lenses firmly in place, and I’m looking forward to seeing @PiyushGoyal soon.”
European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela in a series of posts on X mentioned, “Following our recent mission to India, we keep pushing for stronger EU-India partnership. Today I had a meeting with India’s Minister of External Affairs, @DrSJaishankar. We discussed: New EU-India Strategic Agenda; The progress of India-Middle East-Europe Corridor project. Our joint priorities under the Global Gateway, which include clean energy, sustainable urbanization and enhanced connectivity.”
“To fully unlock the potential of the EU-India partnership, today we signed a Cooperation Agreement on Trilateral Cooperation with Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar. This new initiative will support pilot projects in third countries, focused on driving sustainable development with a strong emphasis on climate action and digital inclusion,” Jozef Sikela added.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed cooperation between India and Europe on several fronts, including trade, technology and security.
Meanwhile, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union/Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas has said that the European Union (EU) remains committed to its transatlantic relationship with the US, but this should not prevent the bloc from forging new global partnerships.
Speaking at the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum 2025, Kallas said while the EU continues to value its relationship with Washington, Europe must also seize emerging opportunities to diversify its global alliances.
“We still value the relationship with what we have with the Americans. But it doesn’t mean that we can’t build other relationships,” she added.
The EU official emphasised that Europe is seen as a reliable and predictable partner by many countries around the world, presenting a “unique opportunity window” for the EU to strengthen its geopolitical position.
Kallas rejected the idea that Europe is drifting away from the US, instead describing the evolution of their relationship as a sign of maturity.
“We are with the Americans not growing apart, but growing up in our relationship,” she said. “We have other friends. We have additional friends.”
