EU Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic today said that India and the European Union (EU) are nearing the conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. Mr Sefcovic, who is also Commissioner of Inter-Institutional Relations and Transparency, met with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal after arriving in India today.
The meeting comes ahead of the EU-India summit, which will be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Sharing the post on social media with Mr Goyal, Sefcovic said, the cumulation of an intense past year trade engagement reflects its importance. Mr Goyal said the sustained and constructive engagement between India and the EU and their teams over the past year has brought them closer to a fruitful outcome.
At the summit, the leaders are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda to reinforce the strategic partnership and deepen cooperation, which delivers stability and prosperity at home and beyond.
Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, in a statement, said that India is a crucial partner for the EU and shares the capacity and responsibility to protect the rules-based international order.
Costa and the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, were accorded a Guard of Honour and a ceremonial welcome at the airport in New Delhi today.
Leyen and Costa will attend India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26 as Guests of Honour.
