LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2369
ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026
16TH INDIA-EUROPEAN UNION (EU) SUMMIT
2369. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has successfully concluded the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement and a Migration and Mobility Partnership during the recently held 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the specific timeline for the "legal scrubbing” and formal ratification of these agreements before they come into force;
(c) whether the Government has addressed the concerns regarding the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and its potential impact on Indian metal and engineering exports, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the details of the new Security and Defence Partnership, specifically regarding maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and cooperation in the defense industrial sector?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was announced at the 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi on 27 January 2026, co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the European Council Mr. António Costa, and President of the European Commission Ms. Ursula von der Leyen. India-EU FTA is a modern, rules-based trade partnership focused on market access, regulatory cooperation and economic integration, while preserving India’s policy space and developmental priorities. India secured preferential market access for more than 99% of merchandise exports to a large EU market in sectors such as textiles, chemicals, electronics, engineering, etc.
Further, an MoU on Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility was also signed during the summit, aimed to foster research and innovation, address skill gap, mitigate labour shortages, promote economic growth, alongside supporting the trade and investment framework and facilitate mobility of skilled workers, students, researchers (including doctoral candidates), and seasonal workers between India and the EU. Under this MoU, the EU will work with India to establish a pilot European Union Legal Gateway Office, initially focused on the ICT sector, to act as a one-stop hub facilitating legal mobility of workers, researchers, and students, enhancing the visibility of EU-India ICT opportunities, and providing guidance on legal migration pathways, including qualification recognition.
(b) The India-EU FTA is to come into force after signing and ratification by both the Parties. The process will be carried forward by both the parties in mutual consultation. The MoU on Mobility has already entered in force for a period of seven years from the date of its signature i.e. 27 January 2026.
(c) India has secured an Annex on Carbon Border Measures in the India-EU FTA. The Annex aims to strengthen cooperation and support between India and EU to enhance efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also establishes a Technical Dialogue wherein India can engage with the EU on verification and accreditation requirements and setting of default values under the EU CBAM. India will also get a more beneficial treatment that EU gives to any other country in terms of flexibilities under CBAM through the Most Favoured Nation clause.
(d) The Security and Defence Partnership signed during the Summit is the first overarching framework agreement on defence and security cooperation between India and the European Union. It will deepen India-EU cooperation across traditional and non-traditional defence and security domains, including maritime security, cyber, space, hybrid, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, defence industry, consultation on Indo-Pacific, emerging technologies and critical infrastructure resilience.
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