New Delhi: A high-level delegation from the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee has arrived in India to advance negotiations on a comprehensive EU-India Trade and Investment Agreement (FTA and IPA).
The delegation is led by Irish MEP Barry Cowen, a member of Fianna Fáil, and will be in India throughout the week for discussions with key government and industry stakeholders.
During their visit, the committee met with representatives from the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) and senior executives from leading multinational companies across sectors, including automotive, medtech, agrifood, technology, and spirits. Participants included representatives from Pernod Ricard, BMW, Philips, Siemens Healthcare, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (SEB).
EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin briefed the INTA delegation on the current trade landscape, noting that European businesses and services in India account for an estimated €180 billion annually and employ over three million people directly. Despite regulatory and logistical hurdles, Ambassador Delphin said that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) are “progressing steadily”.
During the visit, MEP Barry Cowen also met with Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly, to discuss bilateral cooperation and the growing Indian community in Ireland, now estimated at around 60,000 people.
Cowen emphasised the importance of the agreement for Ireland, noting that alcohol exports to India have increased tenfold in the past five years. He added that reducing tariffs could unlock further opportunities for Irish dairy, nutrition, and agri-food industries, potentially creating new jobs across Europe.
“Discussions with India will focus on enhancing trade, investment, and innovation through the long-awaited EU-India FTA and IPA,” Cowen said. “By moving forward with realism and addressing existing challenges, both sides can achieve significant shared growth.”
He acknowledged that tariff barriers, quality control mandates, and complex regulatory systems remain key challenges but said the agreements could open new avenues for cooperation in food production, clean energy, and digital services.
“We need to show India — a former colony — that the European Union is a reliable and equal partner,” Cowen noted. “This visit is not just about negotiation but also about listening to India’s perspective. We know that such an agreement cannot be concluded overnight.”
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