What happened?
On September 4, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a joint phone call with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to review India-EU relations. The three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in areas including trade, investment, technology, sustainability, defence, and supply chain resilience. They also stressed the importance of concluding the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the earliest and moving forward with the IMEEC corridor. Discussions further covered regional and global issues, including the Ukraine conflict, with PM Modi reiterating India’s call for a peaceful resolution and stability. The leaders agreed to convene the next India-EU Summit soon.
Why it matters to India
The push for an early FTA with the EU—India’s third-largest trading partner—has major economic and strategic significance, offering opportunities for growth in exports, technology collaboration, and resilient supply chains. Progress on the IMEEC corridor enhances India’s role in global connectivity initiatives. Additionally, aligning with the EU on global issues such as Ukraine underscores India’s diplomatic credibility as a responsible global player committed to peace and stability.