On 27 and 28 February, President Ursula von der Leyen will visit New Delhi with the College of Commissioners to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government. This visit is significant, as it’s one of the first by the College at the start of its new term, showcasing the strong push in EU-India relations. It comes after President von der Leyen announced a new strategic agenda with India that’s set to be unveiled at the EU-India Summit later this year.
“In this era of intense geostrategic competition, Europe stands for openness, partnership, and outreach. We seek to deepen ties with one of our most trusted friends and allies—India. Europe and India are like-minded partners, bound by the shared conviction that democracy best serves the people,” President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said.
“That’s why one of the first visits of the new Commission is to India. We are committed to strengthening our strategic partnership to advance trade, economic security, and resilient supply chains, along with a common tech agenda and reinforced security and defence cooperation,” the Commission’s President explained.
During the visit, the College of Commissioners and the Indian government will have a session led by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi. Also, members will connect with their counterparts individually. Plus, there will be a one-on-one meeting between President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi, followed by a press briefing.
The second Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will take place with the EU represented by Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva. The EU-India TTC aims to enhance cooperation on digital advancements, green and clean technologies, and trade and investment. They’ll cover topics like working together on digital public infrastructure, its compatibility, boosting the resilience of essential supply chains, and tackling global trade issues.
President von der Leyen’s visit to Davos on January 21 highlights a key moment in EU-India relations. Since becoming a strategic partner in 2004, India celebrated its 60th anniversary with the EU in 2022. The EU-India Strategic Partnership Roadmap and other initiatives guide their cooperation from 2020 to 2025.
In 2023, the EU became India’s largest trading partner, with trade valued at €124 billion, a nearly 90% increase over the last decade. Around 6,000 European companies in India provide 1.7 million direct jobs and indirectly support an additional 5 million. The new Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) aims to strengthen these commercial ties.
In 2022, negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement resumed after von der Leyen visited New Delhi, with the next round scheduled for March 10-14, 2025, in Brussels.
