One of the great failings in the EU-India partnership has been Europe's hypocritical attitude on values such as human rights it says it holds dear. The EU goes on preaching to the world about human rights, humanitarian law, ethical values etc but in practice Brussels provides financial support to authoritarian regimes in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, including China, to safeguard its own strategic and commercial interests.
The New Delhi FTA talks come at a strategically opportune moment for India, which now holds the upper hand and may be in a position to extract key concessions from Brussels.
Analysts argue that India’s commercial ties should not be penalized for its 'strategic autonomy' in foreign policy. With the next round of negotiations scheduled for September, the episode has added a layer of diplomatic sensitivity to an already delicate balancing act.
Expressing the wider European mood, a Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre, commented that the summit “was no occasion for fireworks. If the political and diplomatic ties between the two sides have been gradually deteriorating in recent years, economic and trade relations, although still strong, also show no signs of improving.”
Over the years, European societies have become more diverse, more open, and more global. Young people are growing up with different ideas about gender, religion, and identity. But not everyone feels comfortable with these changes. Some people feel like they are being left behind. They worry that their traditions and ways of life are disappearing.
FATF has expressed concerns that certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Nepal may be vulnerable to misuse for illicit financial activities that has grave implications for the region, particularly with India with which it shares an open border
An EU statement after the Brussels meeting noted that “the human rights situation continues to deteriorate—especially for women and girls—prompting strong calls for a united international response”. Notably, the EU stopped short of outright condemnation of the Taliban, signalling a potentially softer stance
There were concerns that India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the EU’s cautious and ambivalent approach to the Kashmir issue could undermine their strategic partnership. However, amid evolving and complex global security challenges, pragmatism and mutual interests have ultimately prevailed.
Because of the increasing competition from other major trading blocs, the 27-member European bloc finds itself compelled to expedite FTA negotiations to secure favorable terms and strengthen its strategic and economic ties with India as soon as possible.
Free trade agreements are not mere documents to be rushed through for headlines. Their consequences are far-reaching — impacting farmers, workers, businesses, and consumers on both continents. Each clause carries weight. Every concession can ripple across entire sectors. Responsible negotiation demands painstaking attention to detail, particularly when bridging economies as different and politically complex as those of India and the EU.
According to EU figures, 8,975 Indians filed for asylum applications across the EU in 2023. This figure fell to 8,676 in 2024. A total of 40,385 citizens from Bangladesh applied for asylum in the year 2023, which increased to 42, 236 in 2024. The EU figures did not mention the grounds for those seeking asylum from India or Bangladesh.
