India-EU Trade Deal: A big step seems to be taken towards finalizing the historic trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU). In this sequence, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, who visited India, gave an important statement on Sunday and said that India and Europe have chosen a clear option of strategic partnership, dialogue and openness. He described this proposed agreement as a ray of hope for the world.

Clear message of strategic partnership

Before the summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Von der Leyen said that this partnership between India and Europe is giving a strong message to the whole world. He said in a social media post, ‘India and Europe have chosen a clear option, the option of strategic partnership, dialogue and openness. Leveraging your strengths and building mutual understanding. We are showing a divided world that this path is also possible.

Top EU leaders will be chief guests at Republic Day celebrations

It is noteworthy that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as chief guests on Monday. Antonio Costa described India as an important partner of the European Union. “Together we share the capacity and responsibility to defend the rules-based international order,” Costa was quoted as saying in a brief EU statement.

Jaishankar expressed hope for a new beginning

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met both the top leaders of the European Union on Sunday. He expressed hope that the India-EU summit will open a new chapter in bilateral relations. Jaishankar said on social media, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to India. We are honored to have them as chief guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations. I am confident that their upcoming discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open a new chapter in India-EU relations.”

‘Mother of all agreements’

Earlier, during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on January 20, Von der Leyen had given a big statement regarding this proposed agreement. He had said that India and the European Union are on the threshold of a historic trade agreement, which will create a huge market of two billion people and which will represent almost a quarter of the global GDP. He termed this agreement as the “mother of all agreements”.

bilateral trade worth 136 billion dollars

It is noteworthy that relations between India and the European Union have continuously strengthened in the last few years. The European Union, as a group, is India’s largest trading partner in goods. The total merchandise trade between India and the European Union in the financial year 2024-25 is about US $ 136 billion, which includes exports of about $ 76 billion and imports of about $ 60 billion.