India- EU to work together on major industries

Overview

India and the EU will work together on semiconductors, telecoms, electric vehicles, and Al, with a focus on secure connectivity. With a budget of Euro 60 million, they seek to standardize EV charging standards and concentrate on battery recycling research. Commitments to market access will also be discussed at high-level discussions.

India-EU to cooperate on key industries

In their top-level meeting this week, India and the EU are likely to enhance cooperation in vital infrastructure and technology sectors, including telecom, semiconductors, electric vehicles (EVs), and artificial intelligence (AI). The establishment of “secure and trusted” communications networks will be among the priority areas, providing an alternative to China-led infrastructure projects.

To ensure efficiency and compatibility, both sides aim to harmonize EV charging infrastructure standards. A “joint research cooperation” program will also be established with the intention of recycling electric car batteries. The Horizon Europe program and India will have a joint budget of €60 million to fund these projects.

India is pushing the EU to commit to more stronger ties in the short term on market access. There have been disagreements, however, with the EU wanting this issue to be dealt with within the framework of the agreed free trade agreement and India demanding explicit mentions in the Trade and Technology Council statement.

Previous and Current Meets

On Thursday and Friday, EU President Ursula von der Leyen will visit India with the European Union College of Commissioners. Von der Leyen is visiting India for the third time having traveled to India in September 2023 to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit and in April 2022 on a bilateral diplomatic visit. Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have frequently met outside of global gatherings.

The EU College of Commissioners’ first-ever trip to India will be one of the first of its kind since the current European Commission’s mandate began in December 2024, following the June 2024 European legislative elections. Von der Leyen and Modi will preside over a plenary session of the College of Commissioners and the Indian government during the visit. While Von der Leyen and Modi will meet bilaterally, College members will also meet with their counterparts one-on-one.

The EU said last Friday that Vice-President Virkkunen, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas, and commissioners Maros Sefcovic and Ekaterina Zaharieva will represent the EU at the second meeting of the Trade and Technology Council, which will also take place during the heavy-duty visit. The EU’s second such bilateral forum is the council with India; the first was with the US and was established in 2021.

Conclusion

Through the council meeting, which will be led by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, India is likely to examine more cooperation and purchases with the EU in the semiconductor sector. India and the EU are cementing their ties in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, telecom, electric vehicles, and AI under a shared budget of €60 million. A focus on bringing EV charging systems into harmony as well as pioneering battery recycling technologies is among these. Although access to markets remains an area of negotiation, visits such as the one by EU President Ursula von der Leyen indicate deepening cooperation. The partnership is intended to enhance safe connectivity and offer an alternative to China-driven infrastructure projects, which reflect the strategic value of India-EU relations.