India-EU industrial talks: Kumaraswamy meets European Parliament delegation on clean energy, EV push
Synopsis
India's Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy met a European Parliament ITRE delegation in New Delhi on 22 September, pitching India as a clean energy and EV manufacturing partner. The talks build on the January 2026 India-EU Summit's FTA conclusion and included a live invitation to European industry to bid for 10 GWh of battery storage manufacturing — a signal that diplomacy is moving toward concrete industrial deals.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy met the European Parliament ITRE delegation in New Delhi on 22 September 2026 to discuss India-EU industrial and clean energy cooperation.
The talks follow the 16th India-EU Summit (January 2026) , which concluded FTA negotiations and adopted a joint comprehensive strategic agenda.
Kumaraswamy invited European industries to bid for 10 GWh of ACC manufacturing for stationary storage, with the deadline set for 13 October 2026 .
Key Indian schemes highlighted: PLI for autos and auto components , PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cells , and PM E-DRIVE .
BHEL's indigenous gasification technology and steel-sector greening measures — including scrap recycling and circular economy practices — were also flagged.
The eight-member MEP delegation expressed interest in deeper cooperation on clean technologies and sustainable mobility.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, held high-level discussions with a delegation of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament in New Delhi, focusing on strengthening India-EU cooperation in industrial development, clean energy, electric mobility and industrial decarbonisation.
Key Discussions and Agenda
Kumaraswamy said India and the EU can combine their respective strengths to accelerate the clean energy transition and advance sustainable transport through innovative e-mobility solutions. He expressed confidence in continued engagement and deeper cooperation across the industrial sector, underscoring that the visit arrives at a critical inflection point in the bilateral relationship.
The minister pointed to the 16th India-EU Summit in January 2026, which culminated in the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and the adoption of a joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda. He emphasised the potential for deeper cooperation in trade, investment, technology transfer and global supply chain integration.
Who Was in the European Delegation
The visiting delegation comprised Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) — Raffaele Stancanelli, Angelika Winzig, Mohammed Chahim, Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Nicolas Gonzalez Casares, Morten Løkkegaard, Jüri Ratas, and Virginijus Sinkevičius. They were accompanied by Etienne Bassot, Director of the ITRE Secretariat, along with Mariusz Kawnik, Administrator of the ITRE Secretariat, and other staff members.
The MEPs expressed interest in further deepening India-EU collaboration in clean technologies, sustainable mobility and advanced energy solutions. They also commended India's efforts to accelerate electric mobility, strengthen domestic manufacturing and advance industrial decarbonisation.
India's Key Industrial Initiatives on the Table
Kumaraswamy highlighted several flagship schemes under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, including the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for automobiles and auto components, the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC), and the PM E-DRIVE programme aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing and strengthening the EV ecosystem.
He also invited European industries to participate in an ongoing global bidding process for 10 GWh of ACC manufacturing for stationary storage energy systems, with the bidding window open until 13 October 2026.
Industrial Decarbonisation and Steel Sector Reforms
The minister underscored India's roadmap for greening the steel sector, citing initiatives including BHEL's indigenous gasification technology and measures promoting scrap recycling, utilisation of steel slag and circular economy practices. These, he noted, form part of a broader industrial decarbonisation strategy aligned with India's climate commitments.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Steel — including Secretary Kamran Rizvi and Additional Secretary Hanif Qureshi — also participated in the meeting, reflecting the institutional depth of the engagement.
What This Signals for India-EU Relations
This meeting builds on the momentum of the January 2026 summit and signals that both sides are looking to translate high-level commitments into sector-specific industrial partnerships. With the European Parliament's ITRE committee specifically focused on industry, research and energy, its direct engagement with India's heavy industries ministry points to a maturing bilateral framework that goes beyond diplomatic routine. The next steps will likely involve working-group-level follow-ups on EV supply chains and clean energy technology exchange.
Point of View
A live ACC bidding process and BHEL's decarbonisation tech — is more concrete than past engagement cycles, suggesting New Delhi has learned that European partners respond to specifics, not just vision statements. However, the real test will be whether European capital actually flows into India's EV and clean energy manufacturing base, or whether this remains a framework conversation. The January 2026 FTA conclusion removes one long-standing barrier; execution risk now shifts to sector-specific investment pipelines and regulatory harmonisation.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was discussed at the India-EU meeting on 22 September 2026?
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy met the European Parliament's ITRE delegation in New Delhi to discuss strengthening India-EU cooperation in clean energy, electric mobility, industrial development and decarbonisation. The talks also covered trade, investment, technology exchange and global supply chains in the context of the January 2026 India-EU Summit outcomes.
What is the ITRE committee of the European Parliament?
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) is the European Parliament's principal committee covering industrial policy, research, innovation and energy. Its engagement with India's heavy industries ministry signals a move toward sector-specific legislative and policy coordination between the two sides.
What is the 10 GWh ACC manufacturing bid that India has opened to European industry?
India has launched a global bidding process for 10 GWh of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing for stationary storage energy systems, with the bidding window open until 13 October 2026. Kumaraswamy specifically invited European companies to participate, framing it as a concrete investment opportunity in India's battery storage ecosystem.
How does this meeting relate to the India-EU FTA concluded in January 2026?
The January 2026 India-EU Summit saw the conclusion of long-pending Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the adoption of a joint comprehensive strategic agenda. The 22 September meeting is a follow-up that aims to translate those agreements into sector-specific industrial partnerships, particularly in clean energy and EV manufacturing.
Which Indian government schemes were highlighted to the European Parliament delegation?
Kumaraswamy highlighted the PLI Scheme for automobiles and auto components, the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells, and the PM E-DRIVE programme. He also referenced BHEL's indigenous gasification technology and India's roadmap for greening the steel sector through scrap recycling and circular economy practices.
