India and EU aim to sign free trade pact in Brussels mid-December during Modi's visit
India and the European Union are working to finalize a free trade agreement by mid-December, targeting a signing ceremony in Brussels coinciding with Prime Minister Modi's expected trip.
The European Commission has asked the Council of the European Union to fast-track approval of the free trade agreement announced on Jan. 27, using a procedure outlined by trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to accelerate implementation amid a turbulent global geopolitical environment. The Commission suggested completing the legal process based on the original English text rather than waiting for translations into the EU’s 24 official languages, which could add more than a year to ratification.
Both parties are aiming for a signing ceremony on Dec. 17 or 18 in Brussels during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anticipated visit after his scheduled G20 meeting in Miami. The signing would follow Council approval of the agreement concluded on Jan. 27.
Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal is set to travel to Brussels this week to address procedural matters, following commerce minister Piyush Goyal’s recent tour of Germany and the Netherlands from Oct. 22-27. Goyal posted on social media that he highlighted the "transformative potential" of the India-EU free trade agreement for market access, supply-chain strength and new trade and investment opportunities.
In Germany, Goyal met federal minister for economic affairs and energy Katherina Reiche and economic adviser Levin Holle, according to a ministry statement. An EU Committee on Foreign Affairs delegation, led by chair David McAllister, will visit New Delhi from Oct. 26-28, marking the committee’s first official trip to India under the current European Parliament mandate.
EU data show India is the bloc’s ninth-largest goods trading partner and sixth in services, with bilateral goods trade valued at €118 billion in 2025 and services trade at €67 billion. The EU’s foreign direct investment stock in India stood at €132.8 billion in 2024, while Indian FDI in the EU was €13.7 billion.
Negotiations, initially launched in 2007, were suspended in 2013 and resumed after a 2021 leaders’ meeting. The political conclusion of talks was announced on Jan. 27, 2026, at the 16th EU-India summit in New Delhi. The agreement is expected to become operational by early 2027.