Call India a “confidence friend” and “a strategic ally”, The president of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenWho reached New Delhi Thursday with the College of Commissioners of the European Union, said that she would discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on “how to bring our strategic partnership to the higher level”.
Modi and Von Der Leyen will meet on Friday. His visit to India takes place at a time when the transatlantic partnership between Europe and the United States sails in uncertainty. India and the EU seek to unveil a new “strategic partnership roadmap” because they deal with flow in geopolitics.
The Minister of External Affairs, the Minister of Jaishankar, called Von Der Leyen and, in an article on X, said: “Appreciate his reflections on the revitalization of India’s engagement with Europe. The great participation of the Indian ministers and the college of EU commissioners during this visit testifies to the importance that we attach to deeper links. »»
President Von Der Leyen is accompanied by the college of European Union commissioners – of the 27 EU commissioners, 22 is part of the delegation – and the second ministerial meeting of the EU and EU Commerce and EU technology and bilateral ministerial meetings will be held during the visit. She went to Rajghat to pay tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi.
“Touchdown in Delhi with my team of commissioners. At a time of conflict and intense competition, you need friends of confidence. For Europe, India is a friend and a strategic ally. I will discuss with @narendramodi how to get our strategic partnership to the next level, “she said in an article on X.
Upon her arrival, she received a special reception and was received by the Minister of State for health and family well-being Anupriya Patel.
This is the first visit to India by the College of EU commissioners together, and the first visit outside Europe by the new college of commissioners who entered into office in December 2024. The college of EU commissioners visited the African Union once in the past – the full college does not go to another country.
The story continues below this announcement
The officials said that the visit of the College of Commissioners in India marks a “new phase of bilateral relations”. While the two parties enter the third decade of the strategic partnership in the third decade, the visit of President von der Leyen and the College of Commissioners will open the way to an additional strengthening of bilateral relations based on increasing convergences, they said.
Meetings at the level of managers, the meeting of the TTC and the bilateral meetings of the ministers and the commissioners of the EU should intensify and diversify the commitment of India-EU, in particular in trade and investments, the resilient supply chains, digital technologies, AI, semi-consumer, green hydrogen, skin energy, sustainable urbanization, and defense and space.
This is the third visit to Von der Leyen in India. Earlier, she came to India during an official bilateral visit in April 2022, and for the Summit of G20 leaders in September 2023. Modi and she also met regularly on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Sources said they have met at least seven times in the past.
The two leaders should take stock of the ongoing negotiations for an ambitious Indian-EU free trade agreement.
The story continues below this announcement
The EU plans to improve trade links with India in order to resolve its relations with China. The EU is likely to call India to lower prices on cars, wine and agricultural products, said an EU official.
The EU also wishes to extend defense and security links with India, in particular in Indo-Pacific. The visit aims to finalize the large contours of a new strategic program which should be unveiled at the next Summit in India-EU which should be held in the second half of this year in India, officials said.
About The Author
