 "EU chief Ursula arrives in New Delhi, to be chief guest for India’s 77th Republic Day")
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.
India is hosting von der Leyen along with European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa as the chief guests for the national event.
EU leaders to attend EU–India Summit
Beyond the Republic Day programme, von der Leyen and da Costa will represent the European Union at the 16th EU–India Summit scheduled for January 27. The summit is expected to focus on key free trade agreement discussions, including what has been described as the “mother of all deals”.
Warm reception in New Delhi
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada received the European Commission President at the airport.
“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,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. He added that India and the EU, as the world’s two largest democracies, share a partnership rooted in mutual trust and shared values.
EU–India trade deal in focus
Meanwhile, the European Union is close to finalising a free trade agreement with India that could create a market of nearly two billion people and account for almost a quarter of global GDP, von der Leyen had said earlier.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she said negotiations were nearing completion, though some work remained. “There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals,” she said.
Security partnership on agenda
An EU official also said that the European Commission and India are set to unveil a “Security and Defence Strategic Partnership” during the upcoming summit.
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