December 9, 2025
Piyush Goyal and Maros Sefcovic reviewed progress during meetings on December 8 and 9 in New Delhi
Discussions aimed to give strategic direction to negotiating teams across chapters such as goods, rules of origin, services and technical barriers
Both sides noted steady advancement in technical talks held from December 3 to 9
The ministerial dialogue reaffirmed strong political resolve to close pending issues through constructive engagement
India and the European Union have agreed to intensify efforts to conclude negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement as soon as possible, according to an official statement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, reviewed the progress of the talks during meetings in New Delhi on December 8 and 9.
The commerce ministry said the two held a dialogue to accelerate the conclusion of the India-EU FTA and deepen the trade partnership. The discussions aimed to provide strategic guidance to the negotiating teams as both sides work to complete the agreement as soon as possible.
The meeting took place soon after a week of technical discussions in New Delhi from December 3 to 9, covering key chapters, including Market Access for Goods, Rules of Origin, Services, and Technical Barriers to Trade. The statement said both sides acknowledged consistent progress across various negotiation tracks and agreed to maintain momentum through continued exchanges.
The ministry said the ministerial discussions reaffirmed the strong political commitment on both sides to address outstanding issues constructively and to pursue a comprehensive and mutually advantageous agreement. The EU team’s visit concluded with both parties expressing confidence and renewed determination to press ahead toward the early finalisation of a modern, inclusive and mutually beneficial FTA.
Source: Economic Times