EU celebrates 60th anniversary of relations between the bloc and India

Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, holds talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the second day of her two-day visit to India.

Von der Leyen was scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind  among other leaders.

The crisis in Ukraine, as well as ways to deepen EU-India cooperation, are set to figure prominently in her talks with Indian leaders.

In a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on Monday, April 25, von der Leyen said: “It is the 60th anniversary of relations between the EU and India. Today, our relationship is more important than ever.

“We are vibrant democracies, we both support wholeheartedly the rules-based international order and we have both large economies, and we are both facing a challenging global landscape.

“ For the European Union, the partnership with India is one of our most important relationships for the coming decade and strengthening this partnership is a priority.

“That is why I am pleased that today Prime Minister Modi and I have agreed to establish an EU-India Trade and Technology Council.

“The EU has only one TTC so far – with the US, and I think it is telling that we now establish the second one with India.

“Also because India is technologically a powerhouse, and in the trade sector we need to unleash an enormous amount of untapped potential.”

Earlier, External Affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar called on Von der Leyen. Both of them discussed taking forward India-EU partnership.

They exchanged views on the economic and political implications of the Ukraine conflict. Von der Leyen said strengthening the partnership is a key priority for this decade.

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