US EditionEU Leaders Antonio Costa, Ursula Von Der Leyen to Visit India From Jan 25–27; Attend Republic Day as Chief Guests
European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit and attend Republic Day as chief guests amid near-final trade deal talks.
- From January 25 to 27, 2026, António Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will be Chief Guests at India's 77th Republic Day, attending the parade and co-chairing the 16th India‑EU Summit.
- The trip is meant to finalise a long-awaited Bilateral Trade Agreement, with negotiation teams saying they have closed 20 of 24 chapters and are very close to an agreement.
- Officials warn that sensitive agricultural items like wine, dairy, meat and processed food remain unresolved, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, may raise concerns next month amid farmer protests, officials said.
- Costa and von der Leyen will sign the pact in Paraguay on Saturday, January 17, 2026, though the European Parliament must ratify it, while leaders co-chair the India‑EU Business Forum and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.
- India and the European Union , partners since the 2004 India‑EU Strategic Partnership, reaffirm commitments to protect farmers and MSMEs while boosting trade ties after the EU College of Commissioners' February 2025 visit.
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54 Articles
Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the 27-nation European Union is in the final stages and is likely to be announced on January 27. He described it as the "mother of all deals." According to Goyal, this agreement will prove to be a "super deal" for Indian exports.
India-EU free trade agreement to be 'mother' of all deals: Goyal
New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, January 16, said the free trade agreement between India and the 27-nation bloc EU, the negotiations for which are at the last leg, will be the “mother of all deals.” The conclusion of talks for the agreement is likely to be announced on January 27. The President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leye…
India anticipates that negotiations for a highly anticipated trade agreement with the European Union could be finalised this month, said the Indian trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. If it is to be concluded, the agreement would represent India's largest trade agreement so far, at a time when New Delhi seeks to diversify its markets on the basis of US tariffs, transmits Reuters.
Trade Deal On Cards As EU Leaders Visit India For Republic Day Celebrations
New Delhi is preparing for a high-stakes diplomatic and economic moment as India and the European Union move to clinch a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27.
On Saturday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to sign the Mercosur Agreement in Paraguay. Only a little later, the next trade agreement is due to follow – the negotiations between the EU and India are due to be concluded this month. Both sides are "very close", Indian Trade State Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Thursday. For India it would be the largest trade agreement in its history, the government is currently looking for n…
India is particularly affected by the US tariffs imposed by Donald Trump last year. Now the most populous country in the world is looking for a new trading partner - and may find it in the EU. However, there is still a central hurdle in the way.
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