An eight-member delegation from the EESC will be arriving in New Delhi for the workshop.

Chief negotiators on the trade talks from both sides are also expected to participate in the meetings which are open to the public.

The Brussels-based EESC is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe's socio-occupational interest groups and others a formal platform to express their points of views on EU issues.

Its opinions are forwarded to the larger EU institutions - the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. It thus has a key role to play in the decision-making process of the regional bloc.