India Emerges as Key Strategic Partner for Europe, EU Signals ‘Powerful Agenda’ Ahead of Delhi Visit
EU leaders prepare to unveil security, defence and trade initiatives during high-profile India visit, with a landmark free trade deal in focus
India, Jan 22 : Europe is preparing to roll out a powerful new agenda with India, underscoring New Delhi’s growing importance to the continent’s economic resilience and strategic priorities, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.
Addressing the European Parliament, Kallas said the European Union is looking forward to finalising a comprehensive agreement with India during the upcoming visit of the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council to New Delhi.
“Europe is ready to deliver on a powerful new agenda with India. Today, the EU agreed to move forward with the signature of a new Security and Defence Partnership. It will expand our cooperation in areas such as maritime security, counterterrorism and cyber defence,” Kallas said, adding that India is becoming “indispensable” for Europe’s economic resilience. She said the partnership is expected to be signed next week during the India-EU Summit in New Delhi.
India-EU trade deal dubbed ‘mother of all deals’
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is close to concluding a long-pending Free Trade Agreement with India, describing it as “the mother of all deals.”
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, von der Leyen said the agreement could create a market of nearly two billion people and account for almost a quarter of global GDP.
“There is still work to do, but we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals one that would create a market of two billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP,” she said.
Von der Leyen confirmed that she will travel to India next weekend to advance negotiations on the proposed trade pact and strengthen broader economic cooperation.
EU leaders to attend Republic Day, co-chair summit
European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations. The two leaders will undertake a three-day state visit to India beginning January 25.
During the visit, they will co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27 and are scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for both restricted and delegation-level talks. An India-EU Business Forum is also expected to be held on the sidelines of the summit.
India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, bilateral engagement has expanded significantly in recent years, particularly following the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February last year, reflecting the deepening scope of the India-EU strategic partnership.
