India-EU FTA negotiations intensify as EU negotiators arrive in New Delhi

A senior team of negotiators from the European Union has arrived in New Delhi on November 3—and will be in the capital till November 7—for negotiations with their Indian counterparts on the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press communique on Monday.

According to the Ministry, the engagements aim to resolve key outstanding issues and advance the agreement toward a balanced, equitable framework that benefits both parties. The visit comes close on the heels of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal’s official visit to Brussels, between 27 and 28 October 2025.

Goyal held forward-looking discussions with H.E. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security. These consultations reaffirm both sides’ commitment to intensifying engagement and facilitating a comprehensive trade agreement.

Deliberations during the week will focus on core areas, including trade in goods, trade in services, and rules of origin, as well as technical and institutional matters. The discussions are guided by a shared vision of a modern, robust, and future-ready FTA that reflects the priorities and sensitivities of both India and the EU.

The negotiations between the two parties gained momentum with the virtual meeting on 3rd November between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the EU’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefcović, as well as the Agriculture & Food Commissioner, Christophe Hansen.

As part of the visit, Sabine Weyand, Director-General for Trade at the European Commission (EU DG Trade), will be in New Delhi on 5–6 November 2025 for high-level talks with India’s Commerce Secretary, Rajesh Aggarwal, on key technical and policy issues.

The ministry also added that the EU delegation’s visit underscores the joint determination of India and the European Union to conclude a fair and balanced agreement that fosters trade, investment, innovation, and sustainable growth.

During his visits to Brussels, Goyal said he had several interactions on outstanding issues related to the ongoing India-EU FTA negotiations, with businesses from Europe, and that India was working towards a fair, equitable and balanced free trade agreement with the EU.

“If I were to summarise the visit, first, we have made significant progress in this three-day discussion. We have agreed to close 10 out of 20 chapters. Another 4 or 5 chapters have, in principle, been broadly decided. We are moving towards convergence so that when their team visits next week, we should be in a position to make significant and substantial progress towards closure,” said the Union minister.