Nicosia: The European Union and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, and security during the third meeting of their Trade and Technology Council (TTC) held in Brussels. This meeting solidified the TTC as a key platform for collaboration, with both sides agreeing to enhance strategic value chains and foster deeper business engagement. A significant outcome of the meeting was the commitment to finalize the upgrade of the TTC by the end of the year, as outlined in the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda adopted at the 16th EU-India Summit earlier this year.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the EU and India made several specific agreements during the meeting. These include initiating formal negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, aiming for completion by 2026, and establishing the first EU-India Innovation Hub focusing on electric vehicle charging technologies and testing. Additionally, an EU-India Startup Partnership centered on deep tech clean technologies will be launched. Cooperation on semiconductors, high-performance computing, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and the advancement of 6G technology will also be intensified. Both sides plan to fortify resilient value chains in agri-food, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and clean energy technologies.
The meeting reviewed progress under the TTC's three work strands: digital connectivity and strategic technologies; clean and green technologies; and trade, investment, and resilient value chains. Significant attention was given to digital and strategic technologies, with an agreement to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence and explore best practices for AI innovation. Further collaboration in high-performance computing is also anticipated, particularly through coordinated projects supporting research on natural hazards, climate change, and bioinformatics.
The EU and India confirmed their readiness to open formal negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe. In clean technologies, both parties agreed to create a dedicated Innovation Hub for electric vehicle charging technologies and testing, and to launch a Deep-Tech Startup Partnership to support startups in accessing markets and commercializing their innovations. They also reviewed joint research projects funded by £60 million over four years, focusing on waste-to-hydrogen, marine pollution, and electric vehicle battery recycling. An exchange of expertise on Hydrogen Valleys and hydrogen safety standards is planned for later in 2026.
On trade, both parties reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation on resilient value chains, addressing market access challenges, and supporting the multilateral trading system and World Trade Organisation reform. The ministers prioritized actions for the TTC working groups to achieve concrete results in digital technologies, clean energy, and resilient value chains. The EU-India TTC, established in April 2022, represents the first such framework India has with any partner, highlighting the strategic importance of EU-India relations.