EU Leaders Visit India as Bloc Seeks Breakthrough on Free Trade Pact

European Council President Antonio Costa arrived in India on Sunday as the European Union and New Delhi push to finalise a long-awaited free trade agreement, aiming to conclude negotiations that have stretched for nearly two decades.

Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Monday, ahead of an EU–India summit scheduled for the following day. EU officials have described the proposed agreement as the «mother of all deals».

«The summit will be an opportunity to build on the EU–India strategic partnership and further strengthen collaboration across key policy areas,» the EU Council said in a statement.

The EU views India, the world’s most populous country and set to become the fourth-largest global economy this year according to IMF projections, as a key future growth market. India, in turn, sees the EU as a major source of technology, investment and expertise needed to expand infrastructure and create jobs.

Von der Leyen said the deal could give the EU unprecedented access to India’s traditionally protected market, adding that European exports to India could double if an agreement is reached. Bilateral trade in goods reached €120 bn in 2024, with an additional €60 bn in services, EU data show.

Talks continue over sensitive issues, including the EU’s carbon border tax and its impact on Indian steel exports. Still, both sides see the agreement as strategically important amid rising global trade tensions, U.S. tariffs and tighter Chinese export controls.

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