From the Indo-Pacific to the Enlarged Mediterranean: India’s Economic Rise and Strategic Cooperation with the EU and Italy

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) represents a potentially transformative connectivity initiative. Its success hinges on prioritised infrastructure in energy and digital sectors, private sector engagement, and robust coordination between the European Union and India. Additionally, IMEC has the capacity to complements Italy’s Mattei Plan, cementing Italy-India cooperation in the defence, cyber, and energy sector. The corridor could catalyse an EU-India Free Trade Agreement, while addressing current investment asymmetries. Yet, constraints remain: India’s dependence on Chinese critical materials, divergent geopolitical alignments, and differing values pose challenges to a deeper engagement with the EU and India. Nonetheless, strategic convergence is growing, especially in sectors like maritime security and industrial cooperation.

Report of the the first India Dialogue forum, Rome, 25 June 2025.