In a recent opinion for The News Site of India, Dr. Chris Cardona, former Maltese Economy Minister and EU Council President, stresses that the EU-India partnership is an economic necessity amid geopolitical shifts and supply chain risks. He warns that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) progress is sluggish due to mutual hurdles.
From Europe’s view, India’s high tariffs, regulatory opacity, and localization rules deter investors, especially SMEs facing procurement and contract issues. India sees the EU as overly prescriptive on sustainability, data, and carbon measures, viewing them as growth barriers.
These differences arise from contrasting priorities: Europe’s values-driven trade versus India’s focus on expansion and jobs. Cardona urges Europe to avoid “regulatory rigidity” and engage India as a co-creator, drawing from Malta’s open-market approach during its EU Presidency.
In a fragmenting global economy, a strong FTA would affirm rules-based trade among democracies. Success demands flexibility from Europe, openness from India, and swift action over perfection. “The window is open,” Cardona concludes—will both sides seize it?
