The chairwoman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen smiled radiantly, standing next to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The leaders have just entrusted their teams to reduce the differences that have been going on for decades in order to finalize the free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year, for the first time discussed in 2007 – this is the largest agreement of this type in the world – said von der Leyen.
The impulse to push the forward agreement is the result of EU activities. She is looking for new markets, because her closest ally on the other side of the Atlantic declared her trade war. After US President Donald Trump threatened to impose duties on Europe, von der Leyen signed a controversial contract with the Latin American Mercosur block. Then she looked to the east – towards India.
– We can both lose in the world of influence zones and isolationism. However, we can both gain cooperation and cooperation in the world of cooperation – said von der Leyen in February during a visit to New Delhi.
Already in 2023, the EU prepared an action plan to attract foreign employees and fill the staff shortages of the Alliance. India citizens will be able to fill these gaps – As far as Western countries recognize their qualifications and facilitate visa procedures.
The Indian community has already developed a brand in the technology, health and hotel care industry in most Western countries.
A reasonable partner
The Saurabh Kumar envoment to the EU said that India has a qualified and talented workforce that can meet the EU needs.
– India would be very happy to provide Europe with a qualified labor force. Ultimately, how and where to attract working force is, however, is the decision of Europe – he noted.
The Indian government has made a contract even more attractive, agreeing to the repatriation of those who illegally get to Europe.
The country has already signed several agreements on the mobility of migrants, recently with Germany, Italy and France. Although these contracts are to open new opportunities to Indian students and professionals, in their power people who came to Western countries without relevant documents will be sent to their homeland.
As part of an agreement with Italy, Indian students can gain their first professional experience after graduation or vocational training in this country, and also receive a temporary residence permit for up to 12 months. Both countries have also agreed limits for seasonal and nonsezonian employees for the next two years. This is to benefit India citizens suitable for work in hotel and agriculture, as well as Italian employers suffering from labor deficiency.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on a joint press briefing with the chairwoman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi, February 28, 2025.
In turn, a recently signed agreement on migration and mobility between India and France allows people to return to the country of people in the “unregulated situation” after the final determination of their citizenship.
“Our Minister of Foreign Affairs has already mentioned it, who said that after establishing citizenship we would accept our people back,” Kumar explained.
According to Sita Sharma, an independent consultant working as an older adviser at the Ministry of Development of the Skills and Entrepreneurship of the Indian Government, Currently, over 600 million people in this country are between 18 and 35 years old. For comparison, 14 million people live in this age group in Germany, and the median age is 45 years.
The agreement between Berlin and New Delhi allows “qualified young Indians to gain professional experience, study, start vocational training or work in Germany,” noted Sharma. She explained that the agreement also includes “concluding bilateral employment contracts between the German Federal Employment Agency and Indian institutions at regional or national level, in particular in healthcare, hotel industry, as well as in the field of mechanics and electrics.”
However, she drew attention to the low ambitions of Germany in this area, as the exchange covers only 3,000 employees a year.
The partnership takes shape
Now, however, when work on finalizing a free trade agreement is gaining momentum, Both Brussels and New Delhi are prone to concessions.
It seems that India will finally decide to reduce customs – up to 100 percent. – For cars, wine and whiskey, as well as to alleviate the restrictions related to the opening of the agricultural sector to import from Europe.
Researchers work in the semiconductor production laboratory at Center for Nano Science and Engineering (Censse), located at the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bangalore
There is also an emphasis on enabling the production of semiconductors and other products that would help protect the supply chains controlled by China, as well as possible partnership in the production of green hydrogen.
– India has a very, very strong decarbonization program. If we want to seriously think about closing the coal power plants in the world, there is no better place to start this than India, 'said Jacob Kirkegaard, an older worker worker Bruegel and Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Although they had previously opposed the EU tax on high -emission products, such as steel, and accused Brussels of protectionism in the name of the development of pure industry, now they hope Bet it by emphasizing your involvement in renewable energy. By 2070, they also want to achieve the goal of zero emission.
Kirkegaard believes that access to the local market will be a key obstacle from a European perspective. – India is basically a protectiveist economy in a very old style. It is really about eliminating many of these restrictions – he said.
– However, if Europe wants to significantly increase the legal economic migration to the EU – what, I think, many countries would like – He must cooperate with India He said.
