<figure id="attachment_3251841" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3251841" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3251841" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/6d62a253-eu-india-08012026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3251841" class="wp-caption-text">Foreign ministers of Germany, India, France and Poland pose for a family photo as part of the Weimar Triangle and Indian foreign ministers meeting in Paris. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
PARIS: France, Germany, and Poland on Wednesday called for the rapid signing of a free trade deal between the EU and India, calling it a &#8220;decisive step&#8221; in relations, the French foreign minister said.
&#8220;A major agreement between the EU and India is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks, with a summit dedicated to it at the end of January,&#8221; Jean-Noel Barrot said at a briefing alongside German, Polish, and Indian counterparts.
It marks a &#8220;decisive step in the strategic rapprochement between our two regions,&#8221; he added.
India and the EU have long been negotiating the deal. A summit is scheduled for Jan 27.
&#8220;It is very important that we quickly sign a free‑trade agreement between the EU and India,&#8221; said Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski.
His German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, said it was &#8220;an important step towards greater diversification&#8221;, adding a security and defence partnership was &#8220;also on the right track&#8221;.
He stressed the need to &#8220;reduce dependencies so as not to make ourselves vulnerable to blackmail&#8221;.
The two sides had hoped to finalise a deal by the end of 2025, at a time of global trade tensions between major powers.
The EU is already India&#8217;s largest trading partner, accounting for €124 billion (US$130 billion) worth of trade in goods in 2023 – more than 12% of total Indian trade, according to Brussels.
The bloc is pushing for a trade deal that lowers entry barriers for its cars, spirits and wines, while New Delhi wants easier access for its textiles and pharmaceuticals.
The agreement would also cover security.
&#8220;I believe we can bring greater stability to both the international economy and global politics,&#8221; said Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, adding it was &#8220;necessary that India strengthen its relationship&#8221; with Europe.

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