New Delhi, 23 October 2023: The new European Union Ambassador, Hervé Delphin presented his Letters of Credence to the Hon’ble President of India, Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, at an official ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan today. “The strategic partnership with India is one of the most significant relationships developed by the European Union on the global stage. It is an honour for me to represent the EU in India and contribute to make EU-India a defining force for the world of today and tomorrow.” Ambassador Hervé Delphin said on the occasion.
Emphasizing that boosting economic opportunities, ensuring resilient supply chains, promoting faster green and digital transition will be the key focus of his efforts, Ambassador Delphin said, “Today, the EU and India are trusted partners and friends, with strong bilateral cooperation. Over the years, our strategic ties have both broadened and deepened based on shared goals and interests – on trade, trusted-technology, security, green and clean energy technologies, sustainability, security and defence and more. We have an ambitious agenda to bring this partnership to a new level. My mission is to contribute to turn this into a reality for the mutual benefit of Europe, India, our companies and our people”.
Progress in the negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement as well as Geographical Indications is a crucial element to unlock the full economic potential of EU-India relationship. The EU is India’s 2nd largest trading partner, accounting for €120 billion worth of trade in goods in 2022 or 10.8% of total Indian trade. India is the EU’s 10th largest trading partner, accounting for 2% of EU total trade in goods. Trade in services between the EU and India reached over €45 billion in 2022. The EU as a whole is also one of the largest investors in India.
With the EU-India Connectivity Partnership and its flagship Global Gateway programme, the EU is fully mobilised alongside India to develop connectivity infrastructures at bilateral, regional and global level as a catalyst for development, sustainable growth and diversification of supply chains and to facilitate improved access to goods, energy and data to citizens and businesses. The India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) recently signed by the EU, France, Germany, Italy, India, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is another generational project that can bring further economic opportunities.
The EU and India have also made significant steps in the past years to deepen their security and defence cooperation including on counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security. The Indo-Pacific at large and the Indian Ocean in particular are key areas where this cooperation can be brought to bear.
Emphasizing the strong mandate he has received from Brussels to unlock the full potential of the EU-India partnership, the Ambassador said, “The EU and India have much to gain from each other. Together we also have much to offer to the world in order to address the global challenges of our times be it geopolitical, climate change, environment, sustainable development.” “Our common democratic values and principles are the fertile ground on which this relationship flourishes and we must continue to tend it”, he added.
With a career spanning 30 years with the EU, Hervé Delphin is a specialist in foreign policy and international relations. Prior to his posting in India, he was heading the policy planning at the European Diplomatic Service, EEAS, where he also served as Acting Director of Strategic Communications and Foresight.
From 2014 to 2017, he was Head of the Unit in the European Commission in charge of the EU humanitarian and emergency response to major crises in the European Neighbourhood and the Middle East. Previously, he served as the Head of the Cabinet of European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva and as Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Commissioners Louis Michel and Karel de Gucht, responsible for the development policy and external relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
He is a visiting professor at the College of Europe, Department of International Relations and Diplomatic Studies, in Bruges (Belgium). He has published several papers and articles related to international relations and global strategic issues.
A French national, he was awarded the title of “Knight of the Legion of Honour” (Légion d’Honneur), the highest French National Order, in 2014.
Hervé Delphin holds a double Master’s degree in Political Sciences and Contemporary History from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques and a Master’s degree in European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges.
He is married and father of five children.