Is the EU-India Mega Deal About to Be Signed?
India expects the free trade agreement with the European Union reached earlier this year to be formally signed and implemented without delay, according to the country’s ambassador to the EU, Saurabh Kumar.
Speaking to Euronews’ Europe Today, Kumar said New Delhi stands ready to move forward as soon as Brussels completes its internal ratification procedures. He expressed confidence that both sides are working to finalise the agreement quickly.
The deal, concluded in January after lengthy negotiations, is widely seen as one of the most ambitious trade agreements signed by the EU in recent years. It is expected to eliminate tariffs on roughly 96% of EU exports to India, potentially saving European companies around €4 billion annually in duties.
If fully implemented, the agreement would create access to a combined market of nearly two billion people, significantly expanding trade flows between the two economies.
Strategic alignment in a shifting global order
The timing of the agreement reflects broader geopolitical shifts. Both Brussels and New Delhi are seeking to reduce economic vulnerabilities amid rising trade tensions and supply chain disruptions.
Ambassador Kumar described the pact as a strategic milestone in a “multipolar world”, where the EU and India represent key centres of economic influence.
While he rejected the idea that the agreement was solely a response to the United States’ evolving trade policies, he acknowledged that diversification has become increasingly important in a more volatile global environment.
Reducing overdependence on single markets and building redundancy into supply chains is now a shared priority, he argued. The free trade agreement would help both sides strengthen manufacturing links and secure alternative trade channels.
Expanding cooperation beyond trade
The ambassador’s remarks came as India hosts several European leaders at the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Beyond trade, Kumar pointed to defence and advanced technology as areas where cooperation is set to deepen. The EU and India have already signed a security and defence partnership alongside their broader economic talks.
As the agreement moves toward formal signature, both sides appear eager to present it not only as a commercial breakthrough, but as a cornerstone of a broader political and strategic partnership.
