Von der Leyen, addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a meeting on trade and investment ties, ongoing free trade negotiations, and key geopolitical developments, said, “Both Europe and India, albeit in very different circumstances, understood the need to come together. I believe this is a clarion call for all of us as we stand here in 2025 at another inflection point in history. I do not need to describe the geopolitical and geo-economic headwinds that both the EU and India are confronted with,” von der Leyen said.
This was the first-ever visit by the EU College of Commissioners together to India, and the first visit outside of Europe by the new college that took office in December 2024.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 28. (Image; Reuters)
Von der Leyen said countries are increasingly weaponising their sources of strength, including natural resources, technology, and military coercion, to assert dominance and influence on the global stage. In a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump, von der Leyen said aggressive posturing by major global powers is destabilising the world.
She said, “Global South is looking for alternatives to what the international system has offered, and clear attempts are being made to split off parts of the world into isolated segments.”
India-EU FTA Could be Finalised By 2025-end
Addressing the press conference, PM Modi said that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement should be finalised by the end of this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the joint press conference. (Image; Reuters)
“We have had sincere and meaningful discussions, yesterday on various issues. We have asked our teams to work on a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement and to realise it by the end of this year,” PM Modi said.
Speaking on the discussions, the Prime Minister further said that investment protection and geographical indications (GI) agreements were also discussed to strengthen the investment framework.
He added that cooperation in various fields such as technology and innovation, semiconductor, AI, high-performance computing and 6G, space exploration were also discussed.
“The balance of ecology and economy has been our shared commitment, and in this direction, we have a strong cooperation. We have decided to have a Green Hydrogen Forum and Offshore Wind Energy Business Summit,” he added.
Von der Leyen compared Europe and India’s coming together to a celestial event. “…they say that this event signals growth and transformation, and that’s exactly the moment we find ourselves in. The planets are aligned, and so are India and Europe,” von der Leyen said, adding, “India is a like-minded friend.”
As we enter the third decade of the ???????????????? strategic partnership, one thing is clear.
The best is yet to come.Together, we can shape the future and be one of the defining partnerships of this century↓ https://t.co/iCdRgmCSZD
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 28, 2025
She outlined the strategic discussions and main avenues that India and the EU plan to close by this year.
“First, we will work together on economic growth. The potential is immense. Europe is already India’s biggest trading partner… Now, we have tasked our teams to build on this momentum and finalise our Free Trade Agreement before the end of the year. We’re expecting a lot of our trade negotiations,” she added.
In the 2023-24 financial year, India’s trade in goods with EU reached $135 billion, with exports amounting to $76 billion and imports totaling $59 billion, making the European Union as India’s largest trading partner.
European investments in India exceed $117 billion, with approximately 6,000 European companies operating in the country, while Indian investments in EU are valued at around $40 billion.
Also read: Trump’s focus on China trade could hurt India, warns Chicago global affairs council chief
