New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): India and the European Union on Tuesday signed 13 agreements and preparations through the state go to of European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, protecting areas akin to commerce, safety, defence, mobility, clear vitality, science, and catastrophe administration.
The agreements have been signed through the sixteenth India-EU Summit co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the List of Outcomes issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders welcomed the signing of the ‘Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,’ an overarching framework guiding the India-EU strategic partnership.
The go to additionally marked the conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the biggest commerce deal in India’s historical past, aimed toward boosting financial and funding ties between the 2 sides.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the conclusion of the India-European Union FTA, describing it as ‘not only a commerce settlement, however a blueprint for shared prosperity.’
He famous that India-EU relations have grown exponentially in recent times, rooted in shared democratic values, financial synergy, and robust people-to-people ties, acknowledging that the India-EU commerce stands at EUR 180 billion, throughout a joint press meet with the European leaders.
In defence and safety, the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) was formalised, making a first-of-its-kind framework to deepen cooperation in maritime safety, defence business and expertise, cyber and hybrid threats, area, and counter-terrorism. Negotiations have been additionally launched for an India-EU Security of Information Agreement to facilitate the change of categorised info and improve defence collaboration.
With the signing of the deal, India turns into the third Asian nation to have such a cope with the EU after Japan and South Korea.
Financial and technological cooperation was additionally strengthened via an MoU between the Reserve Bank of India and the European Securities and Markets Authority, in addition to an administrative association on superior digital signatures and seals.
Mobility agreements have been additionally reached, which included a framework for cooperation and the announcement of a pilot EU Legal Gateway Office in India to reinforce ability mobility.
Disaster administration cooperation was bolstered via an association between India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the EU’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
In science, expertise, and clear vitality, the 2 sides renewed the India-EU Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for 2025-2030, constituted a Green Hydrogen Task Force, and launched exploratory talks for India to affix the Horizon Europe Programme.
Both sides additionally agreed to collectively implement 4 trilateral initiatives in areas akin to digital innovation for girls and youth, solar-based options for farmers, early warning programs, and sustainable vitality transitions in Africa, the Indo-Pacific, the Caribbean, and Small Island Developing States.
The 13 agreements and preparations underscore the increasing breadth and depth of India-EU cooperation, reflecting shared priorities in strategic, financial, and world governance arenas, and reinforcing the partnership between two of the world’s largest democracies. (ANI)