EU Ambassador Herve Delphin has said the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement could enter into force in the first quarter of 2027 if negotiations and ratification proceed as planned….reports Asia Lite News Desk
The proposed India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could enter into force in the first quarter of 2027, according to EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin, who said both sides remain committed to concluding the process as quickly as possible.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday on the sidelines of the Annual Erasmus+ Pre-Departure Event 2026, Delphin said the agreement was progressing through its final stages and pointed to early 2027 as a realistic timeframe for implementation.
“The work is ongoing, but I think we can confidently look at early 2027 as a moment where the FTA could enter into force,” Delphin said.
Responding to a question on whether the agreement could be implemented around March 2027, in line with expectations previously expressed by Indian officials, he said: “I think it’s good to be really optimistic in looking at the first quarter of 2027 and I think everyone, it’s for me the reflection of the optimism that is behind this timeline and also the commitment of both sides to have it signed and in place as early as possible.”
India and the EU are currently working to complete the legal vetting of the agreement, a process that involves reviewing and finalising the negotiated text before it can be formally signed.
“Both sides are working very hard to complete the process of the so-called legal vetting of the text and in such a way that by the end of the year, there will be a possibility to sign the FTA,” Delphin said.
He noted that once the agreement is signed, it would require the consent of the European Parliament before entering into force. While he did not provide a specific implementation date, he described early 2027 as a credible target.
Delphin said such a timeline would be unusually swift for an EU trade agreement and would demonstrate the political commitment behind the negotiations.
The ambassador described the India-EU FTA as one of the most significant trade agreements currently under negotiation and said it could substantially strengthen commercial ties between the two economies.
“It can unleash tremendous potential for the business,” he said.
Highlighting the possible economic benefits, Delphin pointed to the EU’s experience with previous trade agreements.
“Every FTA that the EU has signed with key partners has shown that after a few years, the trade volume has doubled, the value of trade has doubled. So you can see how much excitement there is also in the business communities on both sides to have this agreement in place as soon as possible,” he said.
The ambassador also said the agreement would contribute to greater mobility between India and Europe by facilitating the movement of business professionals and workers.
He referred to the Schengen Visa Cascade arrangement, under which eligible travellers with a strong travel history can obtain longer-duration visas. Delphin said the approval rate for Schengen visa applications from Indian citizens exceeded 85 per cent in 2025 and expressed confidence that mobility links would continue to grow.
Addressing concerns about the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Delphin said the issue was separate from the legal vetting process of the FTA. He added that any simplifications or adjustments introduced under the CBAM framework would also apply in the context of India.
The ambassador said the EU had allocated a €500 million programme and platform to support India’s decarbonisation efforts. The initiative covers sectors such as steel and cement, alongside investments in renewable energy, electricity grids, energy storage and green hydrogen.
According to Delphin, CBAM is intended to create a level playing field while encouraging industries to reduce carbon emissions. He said European producers supplying the EU market are subject to the same expectations.
Delphin also said stronger economic integration could lead to increased tourism, more direct air connectivity and deeper people-to-people ties between India and Europe.
He added that India remains a relatively small source of illegal migration to Europe, while demand for Indian professionals continues to grow in sectors including information and communications technology, hospitality and healthcare across several European countries.
