New Delhi: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council, arrived in India on Saturday, marking the beginning of her official visit. To announce her arrival, she shared a brief video on the social media platform X, expressing her enthusiasm about the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the European Union and India.
In the 34-second video, Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the progress made, stating, “We are getting closer to the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, the mother of all trade deals. Looking forward to meeting in Delhi soon.”
She further emphasized the significance of this agreement by describing it as historic and transformative. “There is still much work to be done, but we are close to a deal that will create a market of two billion people, accounting for nearly a quarter of the global GDP,” she said. “Europe aims to do business with the growth centers of today and tomorrow, from Latin America to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Europe will always choose the world, and the world is ready to choose Europe.”
Union Minister Jitin Prasad welcomed Ursula von der Leyen upon her arrival in India. Earlier this year, at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, the importance of this FTA was highlighted as a strategic advantage for Europe, enabling it to engage with one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic continents.
Sources indicate that the much-anticipated EU-India FTA is on the brink of finalisation, with a formal announcement expected during the India-EU Summit on 27 January. Both parties are set to adopt a joint document confirming the successful conclusion of negotiations. Following this, the agreement will undergo necessary legal approvals by the European Parliament and Council.
Besides the trade agreement, both sides are also expected to sign a security and defence partnership, along with a pact to enhance mobility for Indian professionals seeking employment in the EU. This agreement is poised to be India’s largest trade deal to date, encompassing goods and services with the 27-member European Union, which stands as one of India’s top export destinations.
Leave a Comment