Page 10 - European Union

EU member nations back EU-India strategic agenda to boost ties, cooperation

All the 27 member nations of the European Union have unanimously backed the block's new strategic agenda with India that seeks to significantly ramp up two-way ties in several key sectors such as defence, trade and technology. The new document was released by the European Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Kaja Kallas last month. The European Council comprising representatives of all the EU member nations unanimously supported it on Monday, according to EU officials. The new strategic agenda is expected to be adopted at the India-EU summit that is expected to be held in New Delhi early next year. The new strategic agenda identifies five areas of shared interest that include security and defence, connectivity and global issues, prosperity, sustainability, technology and innovation. Beyond the bilateral dimension, the new strategic agenda highlights EU-India joint engagement on global issues and with third partners, reflecting India's .

EU energy ministers push to ban all Russian gas by 2027 amid US pressure

Europe has been under pressure from the US to speed up moves to sever its energy ties with Moscow, and buy more American liquefied natural gas

EU Council approves new strategic agenda to strengthen ties with India

EU's new agenda aims to strengthen cooperation with India in areas including prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity, and global issues

UK slaps 90 sanctions on Russian firms, Nayara Energy to curb Kremlin funds

The UK government has imposed sanctions to cut Russian oil revenues, targeting Putin's war funding and aiming to block money flowing to the Kremlin

India-EU free trade talks enter final stage, says commerce secretary

The negotiations between India and the European Union on the proposed free trade agreement are progressing "very well" and have reached the last leg, a senior government official said on Wednesday. The two sides concluded their 14th round of negotiations in Brussels last week, but some Indian officials have stayed back to conclude talks on Rules of Origin (ROO), Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal told reporters here. "We are in the last leg of negotiations. The last leg is the most arduous leg of negotiations because these are the toughest things that are decided at the end. Progress in the last round has been very positive," he said. The 'Rules of Origin' (ROO) provision prescribes minimal processing that should happen in the FTA (free trade agreement) country so that the final manufactured product may be called originating goods in that country. "That (ROO) is one area where a lot of work needs to be done. So we have left the team there. It was planned to have the negotiations for

EU steel duty plan: A double whammy ahead for Indian steelmakers in 2026?

The EU's plan to halve import quotas and impose a 50 per cent tariff, combined with CBAM rollout, could deliver a double blow to Indian steelmakers next year

India, EU conclude 14th round of talks for free trade agreement in Brussels

Senior officials of India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) concluded the 14th round of talks for a proposed free trade agreement in Brussels, an official said. The five-day talks began on October 6 to iron out differences on different issues related to goods and services for the early conclusion of the negotiations, the official said. The Indian negotiators were later joined by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal in the closing days of the round for providing a push to the negotiations. Agrawal held discussions with European Commission Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand during the visit. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently expressed hope that the two sides will sign the agreement soon. The minister is also expected to visit Brussels to meet his EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic to review the progress. Both sides have targeted to conclude negotiations by December. In June 2022, India and the EU bloc resumed negotiations for a comprehensive FTA, an investment

EU starts gradual rollout of digital entry-exit system at external borders

The move is aimed at detecting overstayers, tackling identity fraud and preventing illegal migration amid political pressure in some EU countries to take a tougher stance

EU launches digital entry system for travellers under new border rules

Travellers to Europe, including Indians, will be subject to new entry registrations from Sunday under a phased implementation of the European Union's new digital border system. The EU's Entry Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens to register at the border when entering any of the EU countries by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken. EES will be a requirement when entering Schengen area countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, with Ireland and Cyprus exempt. For travellers using the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International in London, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK. We must do everything we can to prevent terrorists and irregular migrants from entering the Schengen Area illegally, said Rasmus Stoklund, EU's Minister for Immigration and Integration. It is crucial that we maintain effective control over third-country nationals entering the ...

European Commission reviews child safety on Snapchat, YouTube, app stores

The Commission is asking the businesses to provide information on their age verification systems, as well as on how they prevent minors from accessing illegal products

Why the EU shouldn't bow down to Trump's economic strong-arm politics

The EU must resist Trump's pressure on trade and tech rules to protect sovereignty, democracy, and fair global markets, despite potential short-term costs

EU rolls out $1.1 bn plan to boost AI in industries amid sovereignty drive

The move also underscores Europe's goal of achieving strategic autonomy in key sectors amid trade tensions with the United States and China and the dominance of US Big Tech

Europe to start biometric checks for non-EU travellers from Oct 12: Details

The EU's new entry/exit system requires non-EU travellers to register fingerprints, facial scans, and personal details on first entry to the Schengen area, excluding Ireland and Cyprus

Europe wants a reliable partner; India needs to act cautiously and step up

The European Union seeks concessions from India, tolerating ties with Russia and oil export; now India must reciprocate, avoiding unnecessary moves that would further strain EU's trust

EU proposes steel protections, sparking concerns for UK manufacturers

The European Union proposed Tuesday cutting free-trade quotas by 47 per cent on steel and steel products, effectively adding large tariffs on imports from countries like China, India, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom, which said the measures would wreck the British steel industry. After importing 18.3 million tonnes, the new quota, additional imports will face up to 50 per cent in new tariffs, a high price akin to US President Donald Trump's steel measures. Neighbouring nations like Norway, Iceland and Ukraine will be exempt. A proposal to thwart overcapacity The proposal attempts to buttress Europe's traditional steel manufacturers by imposing trade barriers to stem the flooding of Europe's markets with imports diverted by those high American tariffs. Steel importers would be required to clearly declare where the products were melted and poured, and a complex quota system would govern what enters the EU common market. The proposal replaces a current steel safeguard policy aligned w

EU plans to cut steel import quotas by nearly half to preserve industry

EU steel is currently protected by safeguards that cap imports of 26 steel grades, with 25% tariffs above those limits

India-EU trade talks: Commerce Secretary to visit Brussels this week

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal will visit Brussels this week to meet European Commission Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand to give impetus to the ongoing negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday here. The Commerce and Industry Minister said "very" good discussions are going on between the EU and India in Brussels. India is hoping to work together in a spirit of understanding each other's sensitivities so that the two sides can conclude an equitable, fair and balanced free trade agreement, he added. The minister is here on a two-day official visit. He is leading a business delegation to discuss ways to boost trade and investment ties between India and Qatar. "Once this round gets over, Commerce Secretary, Rajesh Agrawal Ji, will be going to Brussels to meet his counterpart, DG Sabine Weyand by the end of this week. After that, we will be working out what are the next steps," Goyal said. When asked about the December ..

EU nations plan to restrict Russian diplomats' travel: Here's why

European intelligence agencies have often accused Russian spies of carrying out arson, cyberattacks, drone intrusions, and other sabotage acts in Nato countries

India, EU to begin next round of trade talks from Monday in Brussels

Senior officials of India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) will commence the next round of talks for a proposed free trade agreement on Monday in Brussels to iron out differences on issues for early conclusion of the negotiations, an official said. This will be the 14th round of negotiations between the two sides. The five-day talks will begin on October 6, the official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has recently expressed hope that the two sides will sign the agreement soon. The pact aims at boosting two-way commerce and investments. Goyal is also likely to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in South Africa later this month to review the progress of talks, as the deadline to conclude the negotiations is December. Sefcovic and the European Commission's Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen were here last month to review the progress of talks with Goyal. Both sides have targeted to conclude negotiations by December. In June 2022, India and the

EU eyes bigger role in 'Make in India' as FTA talks set to begin on Oct 6

India and the EU will start the 14th round of FTA talks on October 6, aiming to boost trade, investment, jobs, and strengthen EU firms' role in 'Make in India'