ABSTRACT
The fourth chapter examines India's policy towards the EU under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, from his coming to power in 2014 until the historic visit of the entire European Commission to India in 2025. It is divided into three sections. The first section evaluates the three main reasons behind India's engagement with the EU: PM Modi's ambitious modernization agenda, China's assertive policies, and the unpredictable policies of the US under President Donald Trump. Together, these elements made the EU an indispensable partner in a more fragmented world. The second section outlines the different phases of Modi's policy towards the EU: his initial scepticism towards Europe; his rediscovery of the EU; and his commitment to broad-based strategic and security cooperation. It discusses the major crisis in the bilateral relationship caused by differing responses to Russian aggression in Ukraine. The third section analyses economic cooperation, including trade in goods and services, investment, aid flows, migration and mobility, and technological cooperation. It discusses the EU's role as a development partner in terms of connectivity and the green transition.
