India’s rapid economic growth and strategic importance have made it a key partner for the European Union, with renewed momentum in EU–India relations following the adoption of a Joint Communication in September 2025. This agenda spans trade, technology, security and connectivity, while negotiations on the long-awaited EU–India Free Trade Agreement are nearing completion. This phase of deeper cooperation presents a timely opportunity to embed gender equality more firmly within the partnership, aligning economic ambition with inclusive and sustainable development goals.
At the same time, the EU is preparing a successor to the Gender Action Plan III, its main framework for advancing gender equality through external action. While GAP III set ambitious targets, including mainstreaming gender equality across most EU external initiatives, its implementation has been uneven and largely confined to development cooperation. As discussions around a future Gender Action Plan advance, there is growing recognition that gender equality must be better integrated into broader economic, trade and investment partnerships, including those with India.
Gender equality already features as a priority within the EU’s human rights and democracy engagement with India, with cooperation focusing on issues such as gender-based violence, economic and social rights, leadership and participation, and opportunities emerging from green and digital transitions. Over time, collaboration has shifted from isolated projects toward higher-level policy dialogue and concrete joint actions. Initiatives supporting women’s economic empowerment and inclusive value chains demonstrate how gender-focused approaches can deliver tangible results while contributing to sustainable growth.
Building on this experience, the evolving EU–India partnership offers clear opportunities to advance gender equality through structural, long-term approaches. Integrating gender considerations into trade cooperation is one such pathway, particularly in the context of the EU–India FTA, where inclusive measures could help women-led enterprises benefit more equitably from expanded market access. Similarly, the EU’s Global Gateway investments in infrastructure and connectivity highlight the importance of ensuring that large-scale projects reduce, rather than reinforce, existing inequalities through deliberate gender-sensitive design and implementation.
Climate action and the energy transition represent another critical area for gender-inclusive cooperation. As India confronts significant climate risks while pursuing a rapid shift toward cleaner energy, policies and finance mechanisms that support women’s participation in climate-resilient and low-carbon sectors can strengthen both social and environmental outcomes. Applying a gender lens to climate finance and investment can help unlock broader economic benefits while supporting a just transition.
Overall, advancing gender equality within the EU–India partnership requires sustained political commitment, meaningful stakeholder engagement and practical tools that translate ambition into action. When embedded consistently across trade, investment, infrastructure and climate cooperation, gender equality can contribute to more resilient economies, inclusive growth and shared global leadership, making it a core strength rather than a peripheral element of the EU–India relationship.
