Evian-Les-Bains (France), June 17
India and the European Union are expected to sign their long-awaited Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in security, defense, and connectivity initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Discussions focused on expanding economic engagement, deepening strategic ties, and advancing key infrastructure and connectivity projects.
Following the talks, von der Leyen said India and the European Union were moving quickly to implement commitments made after concluding negotiations on the landmark trade pact.
“Since we have concluded the mother of all trade deals, we have been moving fast to deliver on our commitments. We will sign the Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year and accelerate work on an investment agreement,” she said in a social media post.
She also said both sides had agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of security and defence as part of efforts to strengthen the broader strategic partnership.
“We will also step up security and defence cooperation and join forces for better connectivity by advancing IMEC, the India Middle East Europe Corridor,” von der Leyen added.
The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor is viewed as a major connectivity initiative aimed at boosting trade, infrastructure development, and economic integration across participating regions.
India and the European Union had announced the conclusion of negotiations for the comprehensive trade agreement during their summit in New Delhi in January this year, marking a significant milestone in bilateral economic relations.
The proposed agreement is expected to further strengthen trade and investment flows between India and the European Union while opening new avenues for cooperation across strategic sectors.
