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New Delhi: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday described India and the European Union as partners capable of offering a different model of global cooperation at a time marked by conflict, protectionism and political uncertainty.
In her first public message after arriving in New Delhi, von der Leyen stressed the importance of dialogue, openness and strategic alignment in international relations, saying closer India-Europe ties could help “heal a fractured world”.
“I’m so glad to be in India today. India and Europe have made a clear choice. The choice of strategic partnership, dialogue and openness. Leveraging our complementary strengths. And building mutual resilience. We are showing a fractured world that another way is possible,” she wrote on X.
Her four-day visit comes ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit later this week and is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening political, economic and strategic engagement between New Delhi and Brussels.
Von der Leyen, accompanied by the President of the European Council, will attend the Republic Day parade as chief guest, underlining the growing importance of India-EU relations. She was received on arrival by Union Minister Jitin Prasada, while the Ministry of External Affairs termed the visit a milestone.
“Charting the next phase of the India-EU Strategic Partnership. A warm welcome to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on her State Visit to India,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“As the world’s two largest democracies, India and the EU share a partnership rooted in mutual trust and shared values,” he added.
At the centre of the visit are negotiations on the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which both sides see as crucial for deepening economic integration. Von der Leyen has earlier described the proposed pact as the “mother of all deals”.
“It will create a market for 2 billion people or about one-fourth of the global GDP,” she had said.
Officials said the agreement aims to eliminate tariffs on more than 90 percent of traded goods, potentially benefiting sectors such as garments, pharmaceuticals, engineering products and IT services.
Beyond trade, discussions during the visit will focus on cooperation in technology, climate action, clean energy, digital infrastructure and security. Diplomatic sources said both sides want to strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on limited markets, particularly in critical areas like semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.
India and the EU are also expected to expand collaboration in research, innovation and defence-related technologies as part of broader strategic coordination.
Bilateral trade between India and the EU currently stands at USD 136.53 billion, making the bloc one of India’s largest trading partners. Officials believe that the proposed FTA, combined with closer strategic cooperation, could significantly raise this figure in the coming years.
A senior official involved in the talks said, “Both sides are looking to move from intent to implementation, particularly in trade and technology.”
Von der Leyen’s remarks come against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts and economic fragmentation. By projecting India-EU relations as a model of cooperation, the EU chief has sought to position the partnership as a stabilising force in an increasingly polarised global order.
