New Delhi [India], January 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a bilateral assembly with the President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, within the nationwide capital as a part of the latter’s ongoing state go to to India.
The assembly befell at Hyderabad House, with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas additionally in attendance.
PM Modi and the EU Presidents displayed bonhomie as they met at Hyderabad House.
Prior to this, the EU leaders paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by laying a wreath at his memorial in Raj Ghat.
The ceremony, held within the presence of senior Indian officers, was a part of their ongoing state go to and coincided with the sixteenth India-EU Summit in New Delhi, which will likely be co-chaired by PM Modi.
The European leaders additionally signed the guestbook on the memorial web site after the wreath-laying ceremony and paid floral tributes to the Mahatma.
The go to comes at a time when either side have concluded their dialogue of a free commerce settlement, which is anticipated to strengthen their shared dedication to democracy and the rule of legislation.
Earlier immediately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reiterating that it’s the ‘Mother of all offers’ and illustrating the partnership between two main economies of the world. The deal turns into vital because it hyperlinks two main economies that command 1 / 4 of the world’s GDP.
PM Modi made the remarks whereas just about addressing the Opening Ceremony of India Energy Week 2026.
He added that the free commerce settlement with the EU will complement current agreements with the United Kingdom and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
‘Just yesterday, an enormous settlement was signed between India and the European Union. People around the globe are discussing it because the ‘Mother of All Deals’. This settlement brings an enormous alternative for India’s 1.4 billion folks and the tens of millions in European international locations. This settlement is an excellent instance of coordination between two of the world’s largest economies,’ PM Modi stated.
‘This settlement represents practically 25 per cent of worldwide GDP and virtually one-third of worldwide commerce. This settlement empowers our shared dedication in the direction of democracy and the rule of legislation. This Free Trade Agreement with the European Union may also complement Britain and EFTA’s agreements… I congratulate the folks of the nation for this,’ he added.
On Monday, the negotiations for the ‘Mother of all offers’, because it has been referred to as, concluded efficiently and will likely be introduced immediately through the India-EU summit.
Earlier immediately, India and the European Union additionally inked the safety and defence partnership right here within the nationwide capital.
Kallas, on the event, stated, ‘The signing of the Security and Defence Partnership is a milestone, and we will construct on that. There is a lot extra we will work collectively on within the multilateral fora, in addition to bilaterally, to additional develop defence cooperation.’
With the signing of the deal, India turns into the third Asian nation to have such a cope with the EU after Japan and South Korea. (ANI)