External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi yesterday. In a social media post, Dr. Jaishankar expressed confidence that their upcoming discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi would open a new chapter in India-European Union relations.
President Costa received a warm welcome upon his arrival in New Delhi for a State Visit. He was greeted by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada. Both Mr. Costa and Ms. von der Leyen were accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the airport.
Dr. Jaishankar also held productive talks with European Commission Vice-President Kajja Kallas. He noted that both sides agreed to intensify exchanges and advance their cooperative agenda.
The EU leaders are visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and will serve as chief guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path today. During their visit, they are expected to discuss the next phase of the India-EU Strategic Partnership.
India and the EU share a relationship rooted in mutual trust and shared values. The visit underscores India’s strategic focus on Europe, aligned with the forthcoming India-EU Summit and ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations. As of 2024, over 931,000 Indians reside in the EU, including more than 16,000 Blue Card holders. Over the past two decades, more than 6,000 Indian students have benefited from Erasmus Mundus scholarships, highlighting strong educational and mobility ties.
The European leaders’ visit reflects India’s intent to strengthen its partnership with the EU as a key pillar of its global and European engagement strategy.
