The inaugural India–EU Forum 2026 was successfully held in New Delhi on 6–7 February 2026. The timing of the event was particularly opportune, following the recent conclusion of the India-EU Summit and the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Track 1.5 Forum brought together over 200 senior policymakers, industry leaders, and strategic experts from India and European Union Member States. Organised by the Ananta Centre in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the Forum fostered dialogue on themes spanning both immediate strategic priorities and emerging areas shaping the future of the India–EU partnership. The closed-door India–EU Forum, held under the Chatham House Rule, facilitated a frank exchange among stakeholders to generate actionable insights for stronger collaboration. Discussions covered geopolitical shifts, the potential of the India–EU FTA for trade and investment, evolving security and defence challenges, talent mobility, Indo-Pacific engagement, and critical and emerging technologies (semiconductors, cybersecurity, digital governance). Further topics included strategic connectivity (IMEC), space cooperation, multi-domain defence, clean energy transition, and aligning strategies in a multipolar world.
The India-EU Forum saw participation from a number of high-level officials. Representing the Government of India were Dr S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry as well as Rajesh Agrawal, Commerce Secretary; S. Krishnan, Secretary, electronics and information technology; Sibi George, Secretary (West); and R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary, Shipping, Shipbuilding & Public Private Partnership. The EU’s delegates included Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships (who gave virtual remarks); Nikos Dendias, Minister of National Defence of Greece; Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, Secretary of State of Poland; Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation at the European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation (DG RTD); Andrea Di Giuseppe, Member of Parliament, Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) & Chairman of the Committee on International Trade of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies; Alexander Schallenberg, Former Chancellor of Austria; Laimonas Talat-Kelpša, Foreign Secretary of Lithuania and Timo Harakka, Member of Parliament, Finland amongst others.
Industry attendance included Jürgen Westermeier, President and MD, Airbus India and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Founder and Creative Director, Sabyasachi along with representatives from Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Flanders Investment & Trade, Leonardo, Novo Nordisk, Incap, Nokia, CMA CGM, Safran, Fincantieri, EDF, ReOrbit, ICEYE, L&T, Bajaj Finserv, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited, Jetline Group of Companies, Ambuja Neotia Group, Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd, SCA Group, Pixxel, Digantara Industries, GalaxEye, and so on.
The discussions across all sessions of the forum reinforced the shared commitment to elevate the strategic relationship. The second edition of the India-EU Forum is scheduled for 2027.
