EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said on Monday whether Brussels and Delhi can clinch their free trade agreement by year-end.
A deal with India would be the EU’s largest to date, opening access to a market representing around 25% of the world’s population.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of trade ministers in Brussels, the commissioner said one last negotiation round is planned in India before Christmas. He pointed to the self-imposed 2025 deadline set in February by President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The last mile is always the most difficult one,” said Šefčovič, stressing that teams had made solid progress ahead of the December talks. “Will we be able to resolve all? I don’t know, I can only say on behalf of EU negotiators and myself that we definitely do our best.”
In September, Šefčovič told Euractiv the negotiations were “extremely challenging”, describing India’s negotiators as “probably the toughest on the planet”.
The trade and sustainability chapters remain sticking points for Delhi, as it clashes with the EU over how to resolve disputes arising from breaches of obligations and sanctions. India has also demanded exemptions from key EU climate laws – including the carbon border tax – which Brussels has reportedly rejected.
Two diplomats told Euractiv the talks could slip into early 2026, with the aim of finalising a deal ahead of an EU-India summit likely pencilled in for January.
A delegation of trade MEPs that visited India earlier this month, with some calling the discussions encouraging. Irish liberal MEP Barry Cowen suggested Delhi appeared open to lowering steep tariffs on spirits, currently at 150%, to levels agreed with the UK, 75% when the deal comes into force and 40% over ten years.
(mm)