India-EU Mobility Pact Creates New Pathways for Indian Students and Professionals
In a significant development for international mobility, India and the European Union have signed a comprehensive framework aimed at easing the movement of Indian citizens across the 27 member states of the EU. This landmark agreement comes at a time when other global destinations, notably the United States, are implementing stricter and more expensive visa policies for Indian nationals.
Uncapped Opportunities for Students and Workers
The newly inked India-EU Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility promises "an uncapped mobility for Indian students," according to official statements. This commitment is designed to provide greater ease for Indians wishing to travel, study, and work within the European Union. The pact was formally signed by Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, during the 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the existing contributions of the Indian diaspora, stating, "More than 800,000 Indians are living and actively contributing to the countries of the European Union." Currently, there are approximately 120,000 Indian students across the EU, with Germany alone hosting around 50,000, making Indians the largest group of international students in that nation.
Gateway for Researchers and Technological Collaboration
Beyond students and general workers, the mobility framework specifically opens doors for Indian researchers, positioning the pact as a strategic gateway for Indian talent to engage in emerging technological sectors. A key focus area is artificial intelligence, with the EU expressing enthusiasm for India's potential association with Horizon Europe, the world's largest public research programme.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked, "Artificial intelligence is one of the best examples. So today, I am glad to announce that we are working on India’s association with Horizon Europe... This will help researchers and start-ups, next generation technology." She emphasized that the agreement would serve as a one-stop hub to support Indian talent moving to Europe, aligning with member states' specific needs and policies.
Addressing Workforce Challenges and Enhancing Strategic Ties
The pact is also seen as a solution to demographic challenges within Europe, where a shrinking workforce is projected to see a decline of six million in the working-age population between 2025 and 2030. It aims to make pathways portable for various professions, including Indian engineers, care workers, nurses, hospitality staff, and drivers.
Von der Leyen noted that the agreement would "reduce strategic dependencies" by combining Indian skills, services, and scale with European technology, capital, and innovation, fostering growth levels unattainable by either side alone. The joint statement from the summit underscored that education and people-to-people ties are vital enablers of the India-EU Strategic Partnership.
Implementation and Legal Support
To facilitate the movement of workers, particularly in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the leaders commended the launch of the first pilot European Legal Gateway Office. This initiative is designed to function as a one-stop hub, providing essential information and support.
The framework reaffirms a commitment to enhancing collaboration on safe, regular, and orderly migration, including through circular pathways for highly skilled workers, students, researchers, and seasonal workers in shortage occupations. It also aims to strengthen cooperation on countering irregular migration, in accordance with the national competences and domestic legislation of both India and the EU member states.
This mobility pact represents a transformative step in bilateral relations, offering expanded horizons for Indian talent while addressing mutual economic and strategic interests between India and the European Union.
