‘Time to take partnership to next level’: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on India-EU relations

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Friday said that India and European Union (EU) are discussing ways to strenghthen “security and defence partnership”.

“It is time to take our EU-India Strategic Partnership to the next level. For our own security and our prosperity. For the common global challenges that we face. And for the benefit of our respective regions and our partners around the world,” Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

Advocating for an “ambitious trade and investment partnership”, Ursula said that European companies can generate massive employment in India after improvement in market access and barriers to trade in India.

India-EU FTA deal would be largest of its kind in world

Calling for finalisation of free trade agrement (FTA) between the EU and India, Ursula said that a trade agreement between the two would be “the largest deal of this kind in world.” She also hinted that India and EU may finalise an FTA agreement during this year.

India-EU security, defence partnership

Ursula announced that EU will strenghthen its security and defence partnership with India, and build ties in the moud of relations with Japan and South Korea. India and EU can have collaboration in several fields including cyber security, space and drones.

“This will help us step up our work to counter common threats whether on cross-border terrorism, maritime security threats, cyber-attacks or the new phenomenon we see: attacks on our critical infrastructure,” she said.

India-EU discuss negotiations on FTA

Earlier in the day, Commerce and industry Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic discussed the progress of negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA). FTA will boost two-way commerce and investments.

"Had a candid and insightful discussion with EU Trade Commissioner @MarosSefcovic over breakfast today on the India-EU FTA and the progress of the Trade and Technology Council. Exciting times ahead as we work towards elevating our trade and investment ties to the next level as trusted partners," Goyal said in a post on X.