India, Sept. 29 -- India and the European Union (EU) must conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of the year to deepen their strategic partnership, and the Indian side must engage in earnest negotiations to ensure a mutually beneficial trade deal, EU ambassador Herve Delphin said on Monday.

Delphin contended the 13th round of negotiations for the FTA this month was "a bit of a missed opportunity to make some breakthrough". He said the two sides must also deliver in negotiating a new India-EU strategic roadmap so that it can be endorsed at the next summit in 2026.

The envoy was speaking on the theme of "Navigating India-EU strategic ties" ahead of the 14th round of talks on the FTA in Brussels from October 6. India and the EU r...