Ursula von der Leyen at Hyderabad House in Delhi met with Narendra Modi for a meeting on trade and connections and progress.
During the joint press statement with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, PM Modi said, “…This is one of the early visits of the (European) Commission’s new tenure. Over two decades of strategic partnership between India and the EU is natural and organic, and in its foundation are trust and democratic values … We 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 realize it by the end of this year.”
Earlier in the day, India and the EU would normally hold a bilateral meeting in New Delhi, discussing key issues such as connectivity, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), clean and green energy, mobility and talent, security, the Mediterranean region, and the European Union’s expansion.
Earlier today, while addressing a think tank, von der Leyen said, “A free trade agreement between the EU and India would be the largest deal of its kind globally. I know it won’t be easy, but timing and determination matter. This partnership is crucial for both of us right now. That’s why Prime Minister Modi and I have agreed to push for its completion this year. You have my full commitment to making it happen.”
