Services and professionals under the EU–India agreement

Services trade today

EU–India services trade reached €59.8 billion in 2024: €26 billion of EU exports to India and €33.8 billion of Indian exports to the EU. It has roughly doubled since 2020.

What European services firms gain

• Certainty: India binds its current level of openness, so it cannot later be reduced for EU firms. The Commission says these commitments go further than India has offered any other partner, including the UK and Australia.
• Priority sectors: preferential access in financial services and maritime transport. Dredging and maritime cable-laying are covered for the first time.
• Management and presence: commitments on senior management, boards of directors and local presence requirements, which the Commission describes as new for India.

Mobility of professionals

The services chapter includes commitments on the temporary movement of professionals, which the European Commission describes as among the most ambitious either side has made. In EU trade agreements, such commitments concern temporary stays linked to providing services, for example business visitors and staff transferred within a company. They do not replace national work permits, the EU Blue Card or the rules on long-term employment, which remain with each EU country.

The exact categories, durations and conditions are set out in the legal text. We will update this page with a plain-language summary once the agreement is signed. Until then, the routes in our Work in Europe guides are the ones that apply.

Digital trade

• No forced disclosure of software source code
• Rules on online consumer protection and unsolicited messages
• Legal certainty for cross-border digital services, while both sides keep the right to regulate

Intellectual property

Strong protection and enforcement for copyright, trademarks, designs, trade secrets and plant varieties. Protection of geographical indications, such as specific wines, cheeses and teas, is being negotiated in a separate agreement.

What it means in practice

• IT and engineering service providers can expect more predictable rules for serving European clients.
• European banks, insurers, shipping and logistics firms gain more secure access to the Indian market.
• Companies running capability centres in India benefit from clearer rules on management, data and digital services. See capability centres.