Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, will visit India on February 27–28, 2025, which highlights the close ties between the EU and India.
As the first time the whole College of Commissioners will visit India together, this visit is especially noteworthy since it shows how much both parties value their strategic alliance. Hervé Delphin, the EU’s ambassador to India, called the visit “first and momentous,” highlighting its significance in advancing bilateral collaboration.
The second ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council will take place during the visit, and President von der Leyen will speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the delegation level. Furthermore, European Commissioners and their Indian counterparts will meet bilaterally as ministers.
The visit takes place at a crucial moment when the EU is dealing with issues like geopolitical tensions and threats from US tariffs, which makes solid alliances like the one with India even more important.
Since 2004, the EU and India have been strategic allies, and their bilateral relations have grown in a number of areas. With goods commerce estimated at €124 billion in 2023—a roughly 90% rise over the previous ten years—the EU is India’s biggest trading partner.
With an emphasis on topics like commerce, economic security, and defense cooperation, this visit is anticipated to further solidify their relationship. In order to diversify trade and reduce risks in a volatile global climate, the EU and India are currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is another important component of their economic collaboration.
