New Delhi, February 28, 2025 – In a landmark moment for India-EU relations, Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi welcomed Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and the EU College of Commissioners to India on February 27-28, 2025. This unprecedented visit—the first by the College of Commissioners outside Europe since the start of their new mandate and a historic first in India-EU bilateral ties—underscored a shared commitment to elevate the 20-year-old India-EU Strategic Partnership to new heights.
The two leaders hailed the partnership as a cornerstone for mutual prosperity and global stability, rooted in shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a rules-based international order aligned with the UN Charter. Against a backdrop of global challenges—climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical tensions—they emphasised the urgency of deepening collaboration as trusted partners to foster a resilient multipolar world order.
A Milestone Visit
President von der Leyen’s visit, marking over 30 years of India- EC cooperation, highlighted the growing convergence between the world’s two largest democracies and open-market economies. The leaders reaffirmed their intent to harness their diverse, pluralistic societies to address pressing global issues, from economic security to sustainable development.
The visit coincided with the second ministerial meeting of the India- EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a platform launched to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, and green transitions. Deliberations between the EU Commissioners and their Indian counterparts yielded concrete outcomes, setting the stage for an ambitious roadmap to strengthen ties.
Trade and Technology at the Forefront
The push for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was a centrepiece of the discussions. Modi and von der Leyen tasked their negotiating teams with concluding a “balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial” FTA by year-end to boost market access and dismantle trade barriers. Parallel negotiations on an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications were also prioritised, reflecting the centrality of economic ties in the partnership.
The TTC emerged as a key driver of collaboration, focusing on economic security, supply chain resilience, and cutting-edge technologies. Semiconductors, trustworthy AI, high-performance computing, 6G, and green energy innovations topped the agenda. Building on an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on semiconductors, the leaders celebrated progress in talent exchanges and skill development. A new MoU between the Bharat 6G Alliance and the EU 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association was signed, promising secure telecom ecosystems and resilient supply chains.
Sustainability and Connectivity
Sustainability was a recurring theme, with commitments to expand cooperation in clean energy, climate resilience, and smart urbanisation. The leaders welcomed plans for an India-EU Green Hydrogen Forum, a Business Summit on Offshore Wind Energy, and initiatives in solar energy, sustainable mobility, aviation, and railways. Joint efforts in recycling batteries for electric vehicles, tackling marine plastic litter, and converting waste to green hydrogen underscored a shared vision for a circular economy.
The India—Middle East—Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), unveiled at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, gained momentum as a flagship connectivity project. Both sides pledged concrete steps to realise IMEC and deeper engagement in global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
Defence and Security Ties Deepen
Security cooperation took a significant leap forward, with growing collaboration between the Indian Navy and EU maritime entities, including joint exercises. The EU welcomed India’s interest in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework and negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement. The leaders explored a broader security and defence partnership, emphasising counterterrorism, maritime security, and the protection of trade routes against traditional and emerging threats.
On the global stage, Modi and von der Leyen reiterated their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the EU joining India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Trilateral cooperation in Africa and the Indo-Pacific was also flagged as a future priority. Discussions on Ukraine and the Middle East reflected a unified call for peace, with support for a just resolution in Ukraine and a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
People-to-People Connections
Enhancing cultural, educational, and professional exchanges emerged as a vital pillar of the partnership. The leaders vowed to strengthen ties in higher education, research, tourism, and sports while promoting legal and orderly migration to meet the EU’s labour needs with India’s skilled workforce.
A New Chapter
The visit concluded with actionable commitments: expediting the FTA, advancing defence industry talks, reviewing IMEC progress, and deepening TTC collaboration. Plans for a maritime awareness dialogue, a green energy dialogue, and enhanced disaster management cooperation were also set in motion.
Expressing optimism, Modi and von der Leyen hailed the visit as the dawn of a transformative era in India- EU relations. They looked forward to the next India-EU Summit in India and the adoption of a joint Strategic Agenda to guide future progress. As President von der Leyen thanked Modi for his hospitality, both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to build a partnership that delivers for their peoples and the world.
With the current date set at February 28, 2025, this historic engagement promises to reshape the global landscape, blending economic ambition with a shared vision for a sustainable, secure, and interconnected future.
