As per their 2025 roadmap, both India and the EU have agreed to strengthen and expand their dialogue mechanism on foreign policy and security issues of common interest

India and the European Union, in the face of a complex international environment, have agreed to further strengthen their strategic partnership over the next five years.

While endorsing “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025,” during their 15th Summit on Wednesday, the two sides reiterated their commitment for each other’s security, prosperity and sustainable development.

In accordance with the 2025 roadmap, they agreed to strengthen and expand India-EU dialogue mechanism on foreign policy and security issues of common interest.

They also decided to enhance exchanges in the context of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum on common priorities between India and the EU.

On the security front, the two sides decided to strengthen cooperation and work towards tangible outcomes on shared objectives of non-proliferation and disarmament, maritime security, counter-terrorism (including counter-radicalisation, anti-money-laundering and countering terrorism financing) and cyber security.

They also agreed to establish regular security consultations between India and the EU, focusing on exchange on strategic priorities, security issues, crisis management and peacekeeping.

India and the EU also decided to strengthen military-to-military relations and exchanges and further enhance mutual understanding through seminars, visits and training courses hosted by defence institutions on both sides.

The two sides also decided to establish a maritime security dialogue replacing the counter-piracy dialogue and explore opportunities for further maritime cooperation and deepen cooperation between the Indian Navy and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA.

Both sides also agreed to continue regular exchange of views on disarmament, non-proliferation and export controls through the annual India-EU Dialogue on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

Also, they agreed to conclude and implement a working arrangement between Europol and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

India and the EU also decided to continue their joint efforts to promote an open, free, stable and secure cyberspace and increase cooperation on cyber security, as well as combat and prevent cybercrime through the promotion of existing international standards and norms in their respective areas. The two sides also decided to enhance consultations on UN peacekeeping including the agenda on Women, Peace and Security.

This apart, under their strategic partnership roadmap to 2025, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the India-EU Human Rights Dialogue as a key tool to promote shared values of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and convene regular meetings to forge mutual understanding and discuss human rights issues, including women’s rights and empowerment and child rights.

On trade and investment, both sides decided to set up a High-Level Dialogue at the ministerial level to provide political guidance to the bilateral trade and investment relation and continue the dialogue on a regular basis.

On sustainable modernization partnership, they agreed to enhance the India-EU partnership through a wide range of cooperation tools and activities, including through financial and technical assistance (such as with development banks and investment banks from both sides, including the European Investment Bank), consistent with and in pursuance of respective obligations and responsibilities under major international agreements such as Agenda 2030, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, UNFCCC and the Paris Agreements well as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

On Climate change and clean energy, they decided to cooperate for the full implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and its legal instruments including the Paris Agreement, and of the Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as the formulation of long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies, in line with the principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) in light of different national circumstances.

India and the EU decided to cooperate each other on environment, urban development, information and communication technology, transport, outer space, health and food security, research and innovation, artificial intelligence, global governance and effective multilateralism, connectivity, cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, global economic governance, development partnership in a third country, ocean governance, people to people migration and mobility, employment and social policy, education and culture, parliament, civil society and local and decentralized authorities and institutional architecture of the India-EU strategic partnership.