India and the EU held the seventh Strategic Partnership Review Meeting in New Delhi on November 9, 2026, co-chaired by Sibi George and Matti Maasikas. The two sides reviewed the free trade agreement whose negotiations concluded at the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026, and pushed for its timely signing and implementation. Talks also covered the Trade and Technology Council, the proposed Blue Valleys initiative, and cooperation on semiconductors, AI, quantum technologies and secure supply chains, following the TTC's third ministerial in Brussels on July 15.
According to businessupturn.com, India and the European Union on Monday moved to lock in the next phase of their economic partnership, reviewing the signing and implementation of their concluded free trade agreement while expanding cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and secure supply chains.
The seventh India-EU Strategic Partnership Review Meeting was held in New Delhi on November 9, 2026. It was co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Matti Maasikas, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service.
The two sides reviewed work on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, whose negotiations concluded at the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026. They said they would pursue the agreement’s timely signing and implementation, while continuing talks on a separate Investment Protection Agreement and an agreement on Geographical Indications.
Supply chains take centre stage
Beyond tariff cuts, the meeting focused on economic security and resilient supply chains. India and the EU discussed their Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and the proposed “Blue Valleys” initiative, which is intended to support industrial collaboration in selected critical value chains.
The TTC’s third ministerial meeting, held in Brussels on July 15, had already agreed to strengthen semiconductor supply chains, joint research and development, and capacity building. It also identified agri-food, active pharmaceutical ingredients and clean technologies as areas where both sides would address vulnerabilities and diversify sourcing.
For India, the agenda links market access with technology: easier customs procedures and digitally enabled trade could help exporters, while cooperation on chips, AI and quantum technologies could deepen industrial capability. For the EU, diversified supply chains reduce dependence on concentrated sources for critical goods.
Officials discussed cooperation on AI, quantum technologies, digital public infrastructure, advanced semiconductors, clean technology and biotechnology. They also welcomed progress in research collaboration, including India’s potential association with the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme.
Officials meet in Brussels ahead of review
Earlier this month, India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal met European Commission officials in Brussels to discuss market access, customs cooperation and FTA implementation. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to a “fair, balanced and mutually beneficial agreement” and to resolving remaining procedural and implementation issues.
The review follows the conclusion of FTA negotiations at the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, 2026, and builds on the TTC ministerial held in Brussels on July 15. The New Delhi meeting on November 9, 2026 was the seventh such strategic partnership review.
What happens next
The immediate next step is the formal signing of the FTA, with implementation preparations—including customs and trade-facilitation measures—already under discussion. India and the EU are also expected to advance the investment-protection and geographical-indications negotiations, while converting TTC commitments into concrete projects and business partnerships.
Source: businessupturn.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
