India, EU hold talks on tourism, transport cooperation at UNGA81
Synopsis
On the sidelines of UNGA81 in New York, India's MEA Secretary Sibi George met EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas to advance cooperation in tourism, hospitality and transport — a telling sign that the India-EU relationship is broadening well beyond trade, even as George's packed schedule covered sea-level rise, Palestinian support and peacebuilding on the same day.
Key Takeaways
Sibi George , Secretary (West) at the MEA , met EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on 25 September 2026 on the sidelines of UNGA81 in New York .
The talks focused on deepening India-EU cooperation in tourism, hospitality, and transport as part of the broader bilateral partnership.
George welcomed the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise and highlighted India's work on coastal resilience and mangrove conservation at a High-Level UNGA Plenary.
At the Peacebuilding Commission Ministerial , India underscored national ownership, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive development; noted it has extended tens of billions in grants and concessional credit to LDCs and SIDS .
George also participated in the UNRWA Ministerial meeting , reaffirming India's commitment to Palestinian refugees.
India and the European Union (EU) on Friday, 25 September 2026, held discussions aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across the tourism, hospitality, and transport sectors, in a meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The talks were held between Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. The exchange forms part of the broader, ongoing India-EU strategic partnership, which has steadily expanded beyond trade and technology into mobility and connectivity in recent years.
What Was Discussed
According to the MEA, George and Tzitzikostas explored avenues to further advance cooperation in tourism, hospitality, and transport — three sectors where India and the EU have overlapping economic interests. While specific deliverables were not disclosed, the meeting signals continued high-level engagement between New Delhi and Brussels on sectors directly tied to post-pandemic economic recovery and sustainable mobility.
Notably, this bilateral exchange took place at the world's foremost multilateral forum, underscoring the diplomatic weight both sides attach to the relationship.
India's Stand on Sea Level Rise
Earlier on the same day, Sibi George delivered India's statement at the High-Level Plenary Meeting on Addressing the Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise at UNGA81. He welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise and highlighted India's work on coastal resilience, mangrove conservation, and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
George reaffirmed India's commitment to the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and stressed the significance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), stable maritime zones, and the continuity of statehood for island and coastal nations.
Peacebuilding and Palestinian Support
On Thursday, George participated in the Peacebuilding Commission Ministerial meeting, where he reaffirmed the centrality of national ownership in peacebuilding efforts. He outlined India's approach — centred on decentralisation of power, human-centric digital public infrastructure, and inclusive development with a focus on women and youth participation.
The MEA noted that India has extended 'tens of billions' in grants, concessional credit, and capacity-building assistance, including through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, with priority for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
George also attended the UNRWA Ministerial meeting on the UNGA81 sidelines, reaffirming India's longstanding support for Palestinian refugees through an ongoing partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Broader Context
George's packed schedule at UNGA81 reflects India's increasingly active multilateral posture — engaging simultaneously on bilateral economic corridors, climate vulnerability, conflict resolution, and humanitarian commitments. The India-EU tourism and transport dialogue, in particular, feeds into larger conversations around the India-EU Connectivity Partnership launched in 2021, which identified transport and digital infrastructure as priority pillars. All eyes are now on whether these talks translate into formal working-group mandates or ministerial-level commitments at the upcoming India-EU Summit.
Point of View
But it quietly advances a connectivity agenda that both sides have struggled to operationalise since the 2021 Connectivity Partnership. George's marathon schedule at UNGA81 — spanning sea-level declarations, Palestinian humanitarian commitments and peacebuilding principles — signals that India is playing an increasingly multi-track diplomatic game at the UN, well beyond the traditional South Asia frame. The real test will be whether these ministerial-level sideline conversations produce tangible working-group mandates or remain aspirational. Given the EU's growing interest in diversifying supply chains and India's tourism infrastructure push, the commercial logic is there — the political bandwidth to execute is the missing variable.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did India and the EU discuss at UNGA81?
India and the EU discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in tourism, hospitality and transport sectors during a meeting between MEA Secretary Sibi George and EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on 25 September 2026. The talks are part of the broader India-EU strategic partnership.
Who represented India in the India-EU meeting at UNGA81?
Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India's Ministry of External Affairs, represented India in the bilateral meeting with EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas. George also represented India at several other UNGA81 sessions during the same week.
What is India's position on sea level rise at the UN?
India welcomed the adoption of the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise and highlighted its work on coastal resilience, mangrove conservation and disaster-resilient infrastructure. India also reaffirmed the importance of UNCLOS, stable maritime zones and the continuity of statehood for island and coastal states.
What did India say at the UNRWA Ministerial meeting at UNGA81?
India's participation in the UNRWA Ministerial meeting reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to Palestinian refugees. The MEA described India's ongoing partnership with UNRWA as a reflection of efforts to make a tangible and lasting impact on the daily lives of Palestinian people.
How does the India-EU transport and tourism dialogue fit into the broader relationship?
It builds on the India-EU Connectivity Partnership launched in 2021, which identified transport and digital infrastructure as priority pillars. Advancing cooperation in tourism and sustainable transport deepens a relationship that has historically been anchored in trade and technology.
