The EU-India trade negotiations are gaining momentum, with both sides aiming to finalize a deal by the end of 2025, according to a statement from the European Union. During the 11th round of talks, progress was made in key areas such as intellectual property and customs procedures. While there is still more work to be done, the statement emphasized that momentum is building.
In addition, the European Union (EU) and India have launched two research and innovation initiatives under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC), with a total investment of 41 million euros (approximately Rs 394 crore), as per an EU statement. These initiatives are designed to tackle urgent environmental challenges and drive technological advancements. Coordinated through the EU’s Horizon Europe program and co-funded by Indian ministries (MoES and MNRE), the initiatives will bring together researchers, startups, and industries from both the EU and India to develop sustainable, scalable solutions with a global impact.
These efforts aim to strengthen the EU-India partnership, operationalizing the TTC’s objectives and underscoring their commitment to joint innovation. According to the statement, the first initiative focuses on tackling marine pollution, particularly the growing issue of marine plastic waste. Co-funded by the EU (€12 million, around Rs 110 crore) and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences (Rs 90 crore, or €9.3 million), this initiative aims to find innovative solutions to monitor, assess, and mitigate the cumulative impacts of pollutants like microplastics, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants.
The research generated by this initiative will contribute to global efforts, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, while also supporting India’s National Marine Litter Policy. Through collaborative research and innovation, the initiative aims to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
