Jaishankar in Brussels: Startups, IMEC and green shipping top India-EU agenda
Synopsis
EAM Jaishankar's Brussels visit on 15 July packed in meetings with three senior EU figures in a single day — covering startups, Horizon Europe, IMEC, and green shipping. The breadth of the agenda, and the presence of ministers for commerce, technology, and science, signals that India-EU ties are moving well beyond the diplomatic boilerplate into concrete economic and innovation architecture.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar held multiple high-level meetings in Brussels on 15 July 2025 .
Discussions with EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva covered India's potential association with Horizon Europe and clean energy research.
Talks with Commissioner Jozef Sikela focused on IMEC , connectivity, trilateral partnerships, and green shipping .
Jaishankar called on European Council President Antonio Costa alongside Piyush Goyal , Jitin Prasada , and Prof.
The visit follows a separate meeting with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, covering security and foreign affairs.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings in Brussels on 15 July 2025, covering a broad India-EU agenda that ranged from clean energy research and startup ecosystems to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and green shipping cooperation. The engagements signal a deepening of bilateral ties following the landmark India-EU Summit held earlier this year.
Innovation and Startups: The Horizon Europe Conversation
Jaishankar met EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, with discussions centred on opportunities for research in clean and green energy technologies, innovation hubs, and India's potential association with Horizon Europe — the EU's flagship research and innovation funding programme.
Zaharieva welcomed the meeting warmly, saying, 'When Europe and India innovate together, we don't just develop new technologies — we shape the future.' She added that connecting India to Horizon Europe and linking 'nearly half a million startups' was central to 'building a partnership designed to turn shared ambition into global impact.'
India's Ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Pranay Verma, along with other officials, was present during the meeting.
Connectivity, IMEC and Green Shipping
Earlier on the same day, Jaishankar met European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela. The two discussed advancing cooperation in connectivity, trilateral partnerships, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and green shipping. IMEC, which envisions a trade and transit corridor linking India to Europe via the Middle East, has gained renewed momentum as an alternative to traditional shipping routes.
Meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa
Jaishankar also called on European Council President Antonio Costa, conveying the warm wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was accompanied by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for MeitY Jitin Prasada, and Principal Scientific Advisor Prof. Ajay K. Sood.
The delegation acknowledged 'significant progress' in the India-EU partnership since the earlier summit and expressed appreciation for Costa's guidance on advancing trade and technology cooperation. The composition of the Indian delegation — spanning commerce, technology, and science — underscores the multi-sectoral nature of the current engagement.
Kallas Meeting and the Broader Diplomatic Picture
The Brussels engagements followed Jaishankar's wide-ranging discussions on Tuesday with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, covering foreign and security policy dimensions of the bilateral relationship.
Taken together, the meetings reflect a concerted Indian diplomatic push in Brussels at a moment when India-EU relations are gaining strategic depth — spanning trade negotiations, digital infrastructure, clean energy, and geopolitical corridors. How quickly IMEC moves from framework to physical reality, and whether India secures meaningful association with Horizon Europe, will be the benchmarks to watch.
Point of View
Trade negotiations — does not freeze the whole. The presence of ministers for commerce and technology alongside the EAM is an unusual signal that India is treating this as an economic summit, not a diplomatic courtesy call. The real test will be whether Horizon Europe association moves to a formal agreement, and whether IMEC secures the financing commitments needed to shift from corridor-on-paper to corridor-on-ground.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did EAM Jaishankar discuss with EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva in Brussels?
Jaishankar met EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva on 15 July 2025 to discuss research in clean and green energy technologies, innovation hubs, startup cooperation, and India's potential association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research funding programme.
What is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)?
IMEC is a proposed trade and transit corridor linking India to Europe via the Middle East, designed to offer an alternative to traditional maritime shipping routes. It was discussed during Jaishankar's meeting with EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela in Brussels.
Who accompanied Jaishankar during his meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa?
Jaishankar was joined by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for MeitY Jitin Prasada, and Principal Scientific Advisor Prof. Ajay K. Sood during his call on President Costa.
What is Horizon Europe and why does India want to associate with it?
Horizon Europe is the European Union's primary research and innovation funding programme. Association would give Indian researchers and institutions access to collaborative projects and funding, deepening India-EU ties in science and technology — a key priority for both sides.
What other EU meetings did Jaishankar hold during his Brussels visit?
Beyond the 15 July meetings, Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, covering the foreign and security policy dimensions of the India-EU relationship.
