Modi and von der Leyen agree to conclude India–EU FTA within 2025 as EU College of Commissioners visits India
PM Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a Leaders' Statement in New Delhi on 28 February 2025, agreeing to conclude the India–EU free trade agreement within the year.
Summary
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the EU College of Commissioners on a visit to India on 27-28 February 2025, the College's first visit outside the European continent in its new mandate and the first such visit in India–EU history. In a Leaders' Statement on 28 February, she and PM Narendra Modi committed to raise the partnership, building on 20 years of the India–EU Strategic Partnership. They tasked negotiators to conclude a balanced, ambitious FTA within the year, agreed to take concrete steps on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and to hold an India-EU Green Hydrogen Forum and a Business Summit on Offshore Wind. India welcomed the EU joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and the EU welcomed India's interest in PESCO projects and in negotiating a Security of Information Agreement.
Key facts
- Visit
- 27–28 February 2025, New Delhi
- Leaders' Statement
- 28 February 2025
- First
- First College of Commissioners visit outside Europe in new mandate; first ever to India
- FTA
- Conclude within 2025
- Indo-Pacific
- EU joins IPOI
- Partnership
- 20 years of India–EU Strategic Partnership
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Who led the EU College of Commissioners on its visit to India on 27-28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the College of Commissioners to India and issued a Leaders' Statement with PM Modi on 28 February 2025.
According to the India–EU Leaders' Statement of 28 February 2025, India welcomed the EU joining which initiative?
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Correct answer: A — Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
India welcomed the EU joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and both sides agreed to explore trilateral cooperation in Africa and the Indo-Pacific.
Which defence cooperation framework of the EU did the EU welcome India's interest in joining projects under, as per the Leaders' Statement of 28 February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)
The EU welcomed India's interest in joining projects under the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and in negotiating a Security of Information Agreement.
Consider the following statements about the visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India (27-28 February 2025): 1. It was the College's first visit outside the European continent since the start of its new mandate. 2. The leaders noted that the India–EU Strategic Partnership has completed 20 years. 3. The leaders agreed to conclude the India–EU FTA by 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the visit was the College's first outside Europe in its new mandate, and the leaders built on 20 years of the Strategic Partnership. Statement 3 is wrong: they aimed to conclude the FTA within 2025.