The EU & India: Inevitable Partners for a Rules-Based International Order

(Organised by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, New Delhi, in collaboration with Council for Strategic and Defense (CSDR) Research on 24 November 2025)

Speakers

i) Professor C Raja Mohan, Distinguished Fellow, Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR)

ii) Dr Tobias Scholz, Asia Associate, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)

iii) Dr Amrita Narlikar, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF)

Moderator

Dr Pradnya Bivalkar, Independent Expert on Germany-India Relations and Strategic Communications

Introduction 

1. The Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR), in collaboration with Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS), on 24 November, organised a webinar, commencing the culminating session of the CSDR-HBS Policy Brief series, marking the release of their final policy brief on India-Europe Relations. The discussion objectively addressed how, amidst the rising global geopolitical uncertainties and the retreat of status quo powers from multilateral engagement, India and the European Union (EU) share a common inclination towards a rules-based international order.

2. The session featured academics, college students, and a multitude of international relations enthusiasts, who became audience to enriching deliberations on the vitality of cooperation between Europe and India, the historical context influencing their foreign policies, and the key challenges these two defenders of global multilateralism may have to face to strengthen mutual reciprocity. The speakers also addressed questions from the audience.

Panellists' Session

3. Dr Bivalkar, an Independent Expert on Germany-India Relations and Strategic Communications, tabled the discussion by underpinning the importance of multilateralism. She mentions the unpredictable discourse of the United States of America (USA), a global hegemon, and the ostracisation of global institutions. The USA has shown in recent years as a concerning symbol of fragmenting international order.

4. After setting the tone for further deliberation, the dais was handed over to the speakers, who then gave their opening remarks followed by their insight on the policy brief and its importance in developing a prognosis of strategic ties between India and Europe.

5. Dr Scholz, who has co-authored the final policy brief, in his remark mentioned that India and Europe share a common set of aspirations when envisaging the international order. In corroboration, he mentioned the New EU-India Strategic Agenda of 2025, a commitment to withstand geopolitical headwinds and advocacy for a rule-based international order.

6. Dr Narlikar, President at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and an expert on Indo-European relations, commenced her remark by highlighting her key takeaways from the policy brief. She praised the ‘policy implications’ of the brief, supporting the prospects of India and Europe forging practical and principled relations.

7. She also highlighted the imperative role of historical contexts in shaping contemporary relations, while praising the report for accurately capturing the juxtaposed realities. Delving further, she mentioned the historical contradictions of European multilateralism and India’s evolution from ‘Nehruvian Idealism’ to a pragmatic approach to multilateralism, balancing its socioeconomic interests with moral rhetoric.

8. Lastly, she lauded the policy recommendations made by the report for their innovative yet practical approach. She specifically credited the recommendation to elevate a practical ‘reformist G4 platform’. She cited the urgent need to holistically advocate for reforms in not just the membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), but also the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), global climate finance, and all such global institutions to retain a rules-based order.

9. Her critical analysis of the report highlighted the use of  ‘rules-based regime’ as a loose phrase. She suggested that the term ‘rules’ should possess a specific definition, as some rules are harbingers of a Western bias. She also critiqued the report’s suggestion to safeguard the WTO from ‘weaponised economic interdependence’, citing it as an indispensable component to the fabric of multilateralism, without which it would cease to exist.

10. Prof Raja Mohan, an Academic and Foreign Policy Analyst at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR), who has also co-authored the report continued the thread of historical context and stated that in the post-World War II era, Europe had emerged as a ‘champion of multilateralism’, and simultaneously, India had observed a ‘sweeping sense of internationalism’, with, however, protectionist policies as a latecomer to capitalism to safeguard its interest and contribute to the global order.

11. Extending the point raised by Dr Narlikar regarding the stress on global multilateralism, he prescribed it to be in ‘shambles’, with the dominant powers pursuing exceptionalist policies, toying with the rules of the international order as per their interest. He also underpinned some contemporary focal points of tension, including digital technology, supply chain resilience, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and green transition, which will be hampered if multilateral engagement is dismantled.

Moderator’s Remarks

12. Concluding with the remarks, the moderator Dr Bivalkar, pivoted the discussion towards the role of shared rules and values in global trade and its influence in shaping the policy discourse between India and Europe. She posed a question to the speakers on the relevance of mutual values against strategic and economic interests in the contemporary political landscape.

13. Advancing a realist perspective, Prof Raja Mohan showcased values to be merely symbolic, with nations consistently prioritising interests over them. His corroboration came from the American value of no intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, which juxtaposes its actual decisions, made to serve its strategic interests.

14. Simultaneously, he also emphasised the dire need of internal reforms in the value system, both in India and Europe. He mentioned that India needs to resolve internal contradictions and differences to claim higher moral principles at the global platform. In Europe, he warned of the rising notion of ‘civilisational state’ as a preposterous ordeal, which could deepen western insularity and a greater divide between the west and the east.

15. Dr Narlikar propounded a distinct perception. She stated that the post-1991 liberal world had been constructed over technocratic interests. She recognised the importance of interests but argued that these interests were derived from certain values. She nullified the dichotomy of values and interests and depicted their interdependence.

16. Highlighting the necessity to comprehend such values, she used European insularity to Indian values regarding climate change as an example, depicting that Indian contribution to global climate action, especially during its G20 Presidency and the enshrined value of ‘Planetary Development’, often remains discredited. This calls for urgent and mutual consideration of values between the EU and India, to imbibe contextual meaning and forge profound relations.

17. Taking a question from the audience, the moderator, Dr Bivalkar, enquired the speakers about the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and whether it complements or contradicts the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations of the past.

18. The speakers proposed a similar answer, with Dr Scholz iterating that the IMEC remains a ‘testing bed’ for future partnerships between the EU and India. There remained a consensus over the importance of the IMEC as a holistic effort to develop mutual values, standards, and rules in key areas of green hydrogen, digital infrastructure, et cetera.

19. Through the last question of this discussion, also taken from the audience, Dr Bivalkar asked the speakers to suggest methods for India and the EU to create sustainable supply chains. To which, Prof Raja Mohan briefly proposed the creation of internal economic capabilities, especially amongst developing economies like India. With globally aggravating economic uncertainty and unpredictable tariff impositions by the USA, it becomes imperative for nations to either increase internal production capacity or diversify their suppliers.

20. Dr Narlikar answered by proposing four fundamental steps—building domestic capacity, working closely with trusted allies, fostering mutual values amongst allies to strengthen relations, and a reformation of the WTO by eradication of the western bias and rules which propound it.

21. Dr Scholz further expanded the third step by suggesting the identification of an area of cooperation or an agenda which is bilaterally agreeable. For instance, the IMEC aims to initiate a green hydrogen project, showcasing an intersecting ambition over climate change.

Concluding Remarks 

22. The panel discussion concluded with the moderator, Dr Bivalkar, thanking the panellists for their insightful remarks on the topic. She provided a conclusive summary of the potential of the EU-India partnership in advocating for a rules-based international order. Although international relations remain thoroughly unpredictable, it is pivotal for the stakeholders to not retreat from multilateral engagement, but identify a unifying agenda and ignite global cooperation.

Ends.

The author, Veibhaw Mahajan, is an Editorial Intern at Ramjas Political Review.

Featured image credit: Indian Press Information Bureau