On 15 July, the European Union and India held the third meeting of their Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels, thereby reaffirming the TTC as a key platform for cooperation on trade, technology and security.
Highlighting the growing ambition oftheEU-India strategic partnership, both sides agreed to focus on strengthening strategic value chains and deepening business collaboration. The partners committed to finalising the update to the TTC by the end of the year, as set out intheJoint EU-India Comprehensive StrategicAgendaadopted atthe16th EU-India Summit inJanuarythis year.
Specifically, the EU and India agreed on the following:
- To launch formal negotiations on India’s accession to Horizon Europe, with the aim of concluding them by the end of 2026;
- To establish the first EU-India innovation hub on electric vehicle charging and testing technologies;
- To launch an EU-India start-up alliance focused on high-tech clean technologies;
- To step up cooperation on semiconductors, high-performance computing, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and 6G;
- Strengthen efforts to develop resilient value chains in the agri-food, active pharmaceutical ingredients and clean energy technologies sectors.
The meeting reviewed the progress made across the TTC’s three areas of focus: digital connectivity and strategic technologies; clean and green technologies; and trade, investment and resilient value chains.
With regard to digital and strategic technologies, the EU and India agreed to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence, exploring best practices for innovation in AI, for example in the healthcare sector. They will also consider greater collaboration on high-performance computing, including through a coordinated project to support research into natural hazards, climate change and bioinformatics. The two partners agreed to strengthen collaboration on semiconductors, focusing on resilient, secure and reliable semiconductor supply chains, as well as on improving cooperation in advanced manufacturing and facilitating investment in semiconductor and electronics ecosystems.
The EU and India agreed to continue technical work on the interoperability and mutual recognition of digital trust services, including digital wallets, building on the administrative arrangement on advanced electronic signatures and seals signed in January 2026. Both partners committed to supporting the mobility of skilled ICT professionals, following the launch of the European Legal Liaison Office’s pilot programme in India in February 2026, as well as to stepping up coordination on global standards, including those for 6G.
The EU and India confirmed their willingness to begin formal negotiations on India’s accession to Horizon Europe. On clean technologies, the parties agreed to establish an Innovation Centre specialising in electric vehicle charging and testing technologies, and to launch a High-Tech Start-up Alliance to facilitate market access and the commercialisation of start-ups. The meeting took stock of joint research, funded to the tune of €60 million over four years, which includes projects on converting waste into hydrogen, marine pollution and the recycling of electric vehicle batteries. In the second half of 2026, the EU and India will also exchange expertise on Hydrogen Valleys and safety standards relating to this fuel.
On trade matters, the EU and India reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation on resilient value chains in the agri-food, active pharmaceutical ingredients and clean energy technology sectors. The meeting also highlighted issues relating to market access, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Both sides reiterated the importance of achieving concrete results for industry with regard to their respective technical regulations. They also reaffirmed their support for the multilateral trading system and for reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Next steps
The ministers tasked the three TTC working groups with taking forward the agreed actions as a matter of priority and reporting regularly on progress.
The EU and India will continue their technical work over the coming months, focusing on achieving concrete results in the areas identified at the ministerial meeting, including digital technologies, clean energy and resilient value chains.
The two partners will maintain close political coordination within the framework of the TTC and lay the groundwork for the next ministerial meeting.
Background
The EU-India Trade and Technology Council was established in April 2022 by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi. Its strengthening was endorsed atthe16th EU-IndiaSummitheld in New Delhi on 27 January 2026. This is the first framework of its kind that India has established with a partner and reflects the growing strategic importance of EU-India relations.
The TTC is structured around three working groups: on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity; on green and clean energy technologies; and on trade, investment and resilient value chains.
Thefirstmeetingof the EU-India Transnational Technical Committee took place in May 2023 and laid the foundations for closer cooperation in key areas such as digital transformation, clean technologies and secure supply chains.Thesecondmeetingwas held in February 2025, at which both partners agreed on new ways of collaborating within the three working groups.
The TTC forms part of the broader strategic partnership between the EU and India and supports the shared objectives of resilient growth, sustainable development, trustworthy innovation and open, rules-based trade.
Quote(s):
“Collaboration between the EU and India has led to numerous fruitful exchanges on AI, semiconductors, the interoperability of digital trust services and start-ups. Cooperation is key to transforming technological innovation into opportunities and turning challenges into solutions. Together with India, we will continue to work towards our common goals of promoting secure, reliable and resilient technologies.” – Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
More information: European Commission
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