European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Says a Successful India Makes the World More Stable and Secure

New Delhi, Jan 2026 : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said that a “successful India” contributes significantly to making the world more stable, prosperous, and secure, underlining the growing global importance of New Delhi ahead of a landmark India–European Union trade agreement. Her remarks came as momentum builds toward the conclusion of what both sides have described as a historic free trade deal between India and the 27-nation European bloc.

Von der Leyen, who is on a three-day official visit to India, attended the country’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as a chief guest, calling the experience an “honour of a lifetime.” She was joined by European Council President Antonio Costa as India marked the occasion with ceremonial grandeur, reflecting the deepening strategic and diplomatic ties between India and the European Union.

“A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit,” von der Leyen posted on social media platform X, reinforcing Europe’s view of India as a central pillar in the global economic and geopolitical landscape.

During her visit, von der Leyen is scheduled to hold summit-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. The discussions are expected to focus on trade, technology, climate cooperation, supply chains, and global security challenges, with the long-pending India–EU free trade agreement taking centre stage.

At the upcoming India–EU summit, both sides are set to announce the conclusion of negotiations for the much-anticipated free trade deal, which has been under discussion for nearly two decades. Days before arriving in New Delhi, von der Leyen had said that India and the European Union were on the cusp of a “historic trade agreement” that could reshape economic relations between the two partners.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, she described the proposed agreement as “the mother of all deals.” She said the pact would create a market of nearly two billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global gross domestic product. According to her, the agreement would offer Europe a crucial first-mover advantage in one of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic regions.

Von der Leyen stressed that Europe is keen to deepen business engagement with the growth centres of today and the economic powerhouses of the future. India’s rapid economic expansion, demographic strength, and innovation ecosystem make it a natural strategic partner for the European Union, she noted.

The European Union is already India’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in goods reached approximately USD 135 billion in the financial year 2023–24, highlighting the scale and potential of the economic relationship. Trade negotiations between India and the EU were first launched in 2007 but were suspended in 2013 due to differences over market access and regulatory issues. Talks were formally revived in 2022 amid renewed geopolitical and economic convergence.

As part of the ongoing negotiations, India is reportedly considering significant tariff reductions on cars imported from the European Union. According to media reports, import duties could be cut to 40 percent from levels as high as 110 percent. The Indian government has also agreed to immediately reduce taxes on a limited number of high-end European cars priced above 15,000 euros, with duties expected to fall further to 10 percent over time. This move would ease market access for European automakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, while signalling India’s readiness to advance the trade pact.

Von der Leyen’s visit and remarks underscore the strategic momentum behind India–EU relations, as both sides move closer to finalising a deal with far-reaching economic and global implications.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)