The European Commission moved Friday to push the India-EU free trade agreement toward ratification, asking the bloc’s Council to greenlight the signing and conclusion of the landmark deal.
The proposal marks a pivotal step for a pact that would dismantle tariffs on 96 percent of EU goods shipped to India, saving European exporters roughly €4 billion annually in duties. Once fully implemented, the agreement promises deeper market access, fewer trade barriers, and steadier rules for investors on both sides.
Bilateral trade already tops €180 billion in goods and services each year, supporting close to 800,000 jobs across the EU.
The Commission’s request now heads to the Council for authorization. After that, both sides can formally sign the agreement. The European Parliament must then grant its consent before the EU finishes internal procedures required for the deal to take effect. India is moving through its own ratification process in parallel.
“This agreement brings together two of the world’s largest economies, a market of 2 billion people and around a quarter of global GDP,” said EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. “It will very soon start creating new opportunities for both trade and investment.”
The development arrives nearly eight months after India and the EU wrapped up negotiations on January 27, 2026, during the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jointly announced the conclusion of talks at that time.
European companies stand to gain clearer entry into the Indian market and a more level competitive landscape, according to the Commission. Consumers could see expanded choices and sharper pricing.
Brussels is advancing the proposal through an accelerated process designed to fast-track trade deals amid geopolitical instability and mounting strain on the global trading order.
