European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that a “prosperous India” is essential to making the world more “stable, prosperous and secure”, as she attended India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path as the guest of honour, alongside European Council President António Costa. This appearance marked the first time that the European UnionThe two top leaders of India jointly participated in the Indian Republic Day parade in this capacity.
Describing her participation as “the honor of her life”, von der Leyen shared her message on social media, highlighting India’s growing global stature. “A prosperous India makes the world more stable, more prosperous and more secure. And we all benefit,” she wrote, highlighting New Delhi’s growing role in global economic and strategic affairs.
THE Republic Day Ceremony Present were President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of the Union Cabinet, senior officials and foreign diplomats. The parade showcased India’s military strength, local defense capabilities and cultural diversity, with the participation of a small military contingent from the European Union, reflecting the expansion of defense and security cooperation between India and the EU.
Von der Leyen is on a three-day visit to India and is expected to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday. His visit coincides with the 16th India-EU summit, during which both sides are expected to announce the conclusion of negotiations on a long-pending free trade agreement (FTA). Ahead of the trip, von der Leyen called the proposed pact “historic,” saying it has the potential to fundamentally reshape economic ties between India and the 27-nation European bloc.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, she said the deal would create a combined market of almost two billion people, representing almost a quarter of global GDP. “There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade deal. Some call it the mother of all deals,” she said, emphasizing that the deal would give Europe a leading edge in one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
India-EU summit schedule and commitments
India will host top leaders of the European Union on Tuesday for formal talks and a series of high-level engagements in New Delhi. The visit highlights the growing strategic, economic and political partnership between India and the European Union in an evolving global landscape.
The official program begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat at 11:10 am, paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi. This will be followed by a formal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House at 11:30 am, during which the leaders are expected to review progress in India-EU relations and discuss cooperation in trade, technology, climate action and global security. Joint press statements are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. at the same location.
Later today, President Ursula von der Leyen will participate in a trade event at Bharat Mandapam at 3:05 p.m., highlighting the EU’s focus on strengthening trade ties and investment flows with India. She is also expected to visit the Vice President at 4:30 p.m., followed by a meeting with the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 6 p.m.
President von der Leyen will leave New Delhi later this evening, while President António Costa is expected to leave on January 28, concluding summit commitments.
EU-India trade links
The European Union is currently India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral merchandise trade valued at $135 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. Negotiations for the FTA were first launched in 2007, suspended in 2013 and restarted in 2022.
As part of the negotiations, India is reportedly considering significant reductions in import duties on cars manufactured in the EU, potentially lowering tariffs to 40 percent from levels of up to 110 percent. Under the proposal, duties on a limited number of high-end vehicles would be reduced immediately and gradually, benefiting European carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
European Council President António Costa, who takes office in December 2024, and von der Leyen are accompanied by a high-level EU delegation. Their joint presence on Republic Day underlines the diplomatic weight of the visit and signals the EU’s intention to deepen its strategic partnership with India in a changing global context.
