Navigating Norms and Pragmatism in EU-India Relations

Philipp Gieg and Gisela Müller-Brandeck-Bocquet explore the strategic partnership between the European Union and India. Despite shared democratic values and ambitious goals, this partnership has underperformed, largely due to divergent interests and differing interpretations of fundamental norms. The authors analyse two key areas of cooperation, how they have changed in recent years, and what implications this has for the future of the partnership: cooperation on global governance and multilateralism as well as connectivity. They highlight India’s increasing contestation of norms, particularly regarding multilateralism and development cooperation, and examine the pragmatic shifts in EU-India connectivity cooperation. The study suggests that a more pragmatic, less moralistic approach by the EU—which does not equal abandoning its own values—could enhance future cooperation.