Irish MEP part of delegation to visit India for talks on EU trade agreement

Barry Cowen to Join EU Trade Delegation to India as Deal Talks Advance

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen will travel to India later this month as part of a European Parliament delegation for high-level trade discussions.

Cowen, who represents the Midlands North-West constituency, will join colleagues from the Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) on the mission from October 27th to 29th. The delegation will meet with several senior Indian ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Dr S. Jaishankar (External Affairs) and Piyush Goyal (Commerce and Industry). Industry stakeholders will also participate, alongside a scheduled visit to Panipat, India’s textile recycling hub, where talks on sustainability and circular economy issues are expected to feature.

The trip comes as negotiations on a wide-ranging EU-India trade and investment agreement enter their final stages. Talks resumed in 2022 after an eight-year pause and have now reached what Cowen described as a “tangible” phase of progress.

Key sticking points remain, particularly around agriculture, tariffs on cars, wines and spirits, and India’s pushback against the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Agriculture was formally added to the agenda during the most recent negotiation round, seen as a signal that discussions are edging closer to conclusion.

Cowen emphasised the potential benefits for Irish exporters, noting that India’s 1.5 billion population and status as the fastest-growing major economy present “huge opportunities.” He highlighted particular prospects for Irish whiskey, which has seen exports to India rise tenfold in five years, as well as for dairy, nutrition products, and pharma.

“A deal between the EU and India could open enormous opportunities for Irish farmers and businesses — but it has to be fair and sustainable,” Cowen said. “Ireland needs to see tariffs reduced on our world-class food and drink exports, while Europe must maintain strong protections for our farmers, especially in areas like food safety, sustainability and fair competition.”

Cowen, who also serves on the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee, added that he has been engaging with Irish stakeholders across the whiskey, dairy, pharma and medtech sectors ahead of the visit to ensure their priorities are well represented.

With global trade tensions ongoing and protectionist measures in the U.S. still resonating, a deal with India would be one of the EU’s most significant agreements in recent years. For Ireland, Cowen believes it could be particularly transformative for farmers and agri-food producers, offering greater access to a fast-expanding consumer market while reinforcing Europe’s commitment to high standards.

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