India and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in sustainable ship recycling. During talks between Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, both sides reviewed the ongoing audit and compliance process for Indian ship recycling yards seeking recognition under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR). More than 30 Indian yards have applied for EU recognition, six are undergoing compliance and approval, and three facilities have successfully met all requirements and are now eligible to apply under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation framework. According to recent UNCTAD estimates, India's share in global ship recycling rose from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025. India recycled 2.99 million gross tonnes (GT) during 2025, nearly a 60% increase over the 1.86 million GT recycled in 2024. Sonowal said India aims to recycle around 16,000 ships over the next decade and has announced USD 8 billion in financial support to develop the shipbuilding and ship recycling sectors. Indian facilities are backed by strong environmental infrastructure and worker welfare measures, including wastewater treatment plants, scientific waste management, multi-specialty healthcare supported by the Red Cross Society, and dedicated worker housing, with periodic and unannounced inspections. Commissioner Roswall welcomed the progress and proposed forming a Joint Working Group (JWG) for effective coordination. She noted the EU approach aligns with the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the Hong Kong International Convention, and expressed interest in visiting Indian facilities. Final decisions will be discussed with EU member states during the autumn session.