New Delhi: A seven-member delegation from the European Union (EU) Committee on International Trade will visit India from October 27 to 29 to advance discussions on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as both sides work toward concluding the deal by the end of 2025.
The delegation will be led by Cristina Maestre, the committee’s standing rapporteur for India, and Brando Benifei. The visit comes amid intensified trade talks aimed at strengthening economic, trade, and investment ties between India and the EU.
“The main objective of this visit is to contribute to increasing our mutual understanding amid intensive trade negotiations between the EU and India. The mission is timely, taking place just a few months ahead of the deadline to conclude negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2025,” Maestre and Benifei said in a joint statement.
They added that both sides are keen to achieve a “meaningful bilateral agreement” that supports a rules-based multilateral trade framework.
During their visit, the European Parliament members are scheduled to meet senior Indian ministers, parliamentarians, and representatives from major industry bodies, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of European Business in India. The delegation will also interact with civil society groups, labour rights organisations, and sustainability advocates to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the proposed FTA.
The International Trade Committee, which oversees EU trade negotiations, will play a key role in reviewing the India-EU deal once finalized, as any agreement will require the European Parliament’s consent.
India and the EU recently concluded the 14th round of FTA negotiations in Brussels on October 10, focusing on the core pillars of the proposed deal and working toward what the EU described as an “economically meaningful market access package.”