Jean-Eric Paquet, the European Union’s ambassador to India, is set to participate in a major international discussion on shifting global power structures, transatlantic relations and the future of international cooperation. A seasoned European diplomat with more than three decades of public service, Paquet took charge of the EU’s diplomatic mission in India in September 2026 after serving as the bloc’s ambassador to Japan.
Paquet is scheduled to speak in New Delhi on October 22, during a session titled “The West, Rewired: The New Transatlantic Order”. He will join Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green for a discussion examining the changing relationship between Western countries and the wider international order.
His participation comes at a time when India’s partnerships with Europe are gaining importance across trade, investment, technology, defence and security. His diplomatic experience in several regions of the world is expected to bring a European perspective to discussions about these developments.
Who Is Jean-Eric Paquet?
Jean-Eric Paquet is the European Union’s ambassador to India and ambassador-designate to Bhutan. Before arriving in India, he represented the EU in Japan from September 2022 until August 2026.
His career spans senior positions in the European Commission, the EU’s executive institution, as well as diplomatic assignments outside Europe. His work has covered transport policy, international relations, research and innovation, infrastructure development and European administrative coordination.
Paquet studied political science and public policy at the Institute of Political Science in Strasbourg, France, completing his degree in 1988. He subsequently earned a master’s degree in European Administration from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, in 1989.
He began working at the European Commission in 1993, initially focusing on international transport relations. Over the following years, he moved into positions involving European enlargement policy, research and institutional coordination.
From Mauritania to Japan: A Career in Diplomacy
Paquet received his first major diplomatic posting in 2004, when he became the EU ambassador to Mauritania. He held the position until 2007 before returning to Brussels to work on transport and infrastructure policy.
Between 2011 and 2015, he held senior responsibilities in departments dealing with transport and enlargement. His work included European transport infrastructure and policy development, areas that have implications for connectivity and economic integration across the continent.
From 2015 to 2018, Paquet served as Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission, with responsibilities that included better regulation and policy coordination. He then became Director-General for Research and Innovation, serving from 2018 to 2022.
During that period, he helped advance European initiatives supporting research, emerging technologies and innovation. These responsibilities are particularly relevant as governments increasingly focus on technological competitiveness, industrial development and cooperation in scientific research.
His subsequent posting in Japan placed him at the centre of EU relations with a major Asian economic power before his appointment to India.
India-EU Relations Enter an Important Phase
Paquet assumed his responsibilities in India after presenting his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu on September 25, 2026. The appointment comes as India and the European Union pursue closer cooperation in several strategic areas.
Trade remains a major part of the relationship, alongside investment, defence and security cooperation. Both sides have also identified research, digital technologies and clean technology as areas offering opportunities for deeper engagement.
Paquet has highlighted the importance of translating diplomatic agreements into practical outcomes for businesses, researchers, entrepreneurs and citizens. His experience in European policymaking could prove useful as the two sides work to expand cooperation.
Global Power Shifts in Focus
The October summit session will examine how established alliances are adapting to geopolitical and economic changes. Questions surrounding international trade, security cooperation and relations between Europe and other major powers have become increasingly important to policymakers.
For India, maintaining partnerships with Europe while pursuing its wider international interests remains a significant diplomatic consideration.
Paquet’s participation will provide an opportunity to explore how the European Union views these changes and what they could mean for its relationship with India. His long experience across diplomacy, infrastructure and innovation places him in a position to discuss the connections between foreign policy and economic development.
As India and the EU look to strengthen their strategic partnership, the direction of their cooperation will depend on how effectively shared priorities are converted into concrete initiatives.
