EU’s Senior Delegation in India to Strengthen Ties

NEW DELHI, 27th February 2025 (BSS/AFP) – The European Union’s top leadership arrived in India on Thursday for what has been described as an “unprecedented” visit, aimed at expanding commercial and diplomatic relations while also counterbalancing its increasingly strained ties with the United States.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by the college of commissioners, is scheduled to hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist government during their two-day visit to New Delhi.

“In this era of rising conflicts and intense geopolitical competition, Europe wants to reinforce its partnership with India, one of its most trusted allies,” von der Leyen said in an interview with The Times of India. “There is great positive momentum in our relations. Together, we can advance trade, economic security, and resilient supply chains.”

The EU delegation is set to discuss a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, energy, and digital technologies, with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday, followed by a meeting with Modi on Friday.

“We aim to progress discussions on a free trade agreement, expand collaboration on digital technologies, particularly AI, and accelerate our work on clean technologies such as electric vehicles and green hydrogen,” von der Leyen added.

This visit marks the first for the newly appointed college of European commissioners, who took office in December, and is considered a major diplomatic initiative in India — a sign of the growing importance of India in the EU’s foreign policy. Von der Leyen is joined by almost all 26 of the EU’s commissioners for this significant trip.

The EU’s push to deepen ties with India comes in the wake of the shifting dynamics in global geopolitics, particularly following US President Donald Trump’s re-election and his controversial dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. The EU, in turn, has sought to broaden its alliances, with India, long pursuing a policy of strategic autonomy in foreign relations, becoming a key partner in this realignment.

Despite its historical ties with Russia, India has remained resilient against Western pressure to sever relations with Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a stance that has shaped its foreign policy.

The visit is expected to reinforce the EU’s commitment to strengthening its relationships with other global players, including India. “This visit will signal that Europe is solidifying its ties with other partners, particularly India, while working to reset EU-India relations,” The Hindu newspaper reported.

The EU is India’s largest trading partner, with goods trade between the two sides totalling €124 billion ($130 billion) in 2023, accounting for over 12% of India’s total trade. However, India is currently protected by high tariffs, which limits its share of EU’s trade in goods to just 2.2%.

Negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) are ongoing, with both parties hopeful of progress. “We are preparing for a 10th round of negotiations in Brussels,” von der Leyen said. “There’s still technical work to be done, but I am confident we can reach the finish line if we both commit to it.”

During the visit, the EU delegation is also expected to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s revered independence leader, by paying respects at the Raj Ghat memorial. The site is one of the most significant in New Delhi, where Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.

This visit underscores the EU’s strategic interest in India, not only as an economic powerhouse but also as a key geopolitical partner in a rapidly changing world order.