EU eyes ‘historic’ trade, security pact with India ahead of summit
The European Union is set to advance a wide-ranging trade and security partnership with India, with key agreements likely to be finalised during the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa later this month.
Addressing the European Parliament, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the bloc has agreed to move forward with a new EU-India Security and Defence Partnership, which is expected to be signed during the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi next week. The partnership will expand cooperation in areas such as maritime security, counterterrorism and cyber defence.
The summit, to be held on January 27, is also expected to adopt a new EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda aimed at deepening political, economic and security ties.
Earlier, von der Leyen said the European Union is close to finalising a Free Trade Agreement with India, describing it as potentially “the mother of all deals”. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she said the agreement could create a market of nearly two billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP.
“There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement,” she said, underlining Europe’s intent to expand trade and international cooperation, particularly with India.
European Council President Costa and Commission President von der Leyen will be on a three-day State Visit to India from January 25 to 27, during which they will serve as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations. They will also co-chair the India-EU Summit, meet President Droupadi Murmu, and hold both restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Additionally, an India-EU Business Forum is expected to be held on the sidelines of the summit.
India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004. The previous summit was held virtually in July 2020. Officials on both sides see the upcoming visit as a significant step towards deepening the India-EU Strategic Partnership, particularly amid ongoing negotiations on the long-pending Free Trade Agreement, which are now at an advanced stage.
