India and the European Union are advancing economic ties as a high-level European Parliament delegation arrives in New Delhi for talks ahead of a proposed free trade agreement.
A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Chair David McAllister, is visiting India from October 26 to 28 to discuss the EU-India Strategic Agenda and geopolitical challenges, according to the European Parliament’s official website . EU Ambassador to India Jean-Eric Paquet said the visit comes ahead of the proposed signing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, currently in Europe, has underscored the strategic role of Dutch ports in facilitating trade under the prospective FTA. During a visit to the Port of Rotterdam, Goyal met with its CEO, Boudewijn Siemons, and discussed port-led growth, logistics efficiency, and supply chain connectivity, an official statement said . Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, is seen as a key gateway for Indian goods to the European market.
Paquet has called the FTA “an absolute game changer for India and Europe,” highlighting its potential to strengthen trade, investment, and supply chains. He added that the agreement, finalised earlier this year, could be signed by the end of 2026 and enter into force in 2027 . Goyal, addressing a business roundtable in Germany on October 22, expressed confidence the FTA could be signed before the end of the year, subject to procedures.
The delegation’s meetings in New Delhi will include government, parliament, business, and civil society representatives to address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Goyal’s engagements in the Netherlands also included discussions with the Indian diaspora on fostering economic and cultural ties.
