India, EU Set Year-End FTA Deadline

Modi, Ursula Talk About Shared Vision on Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Defence Partnership

- JAYANTH JACOB @ New Delhi

SETTING a year-end deadline for their Free Trade Agreement, expanding cooperation in critical technologies, and boosting the India-Europe corridor, India and the European Union outlined an ambitious roadmap for their partnership following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation on Friday.

With PM Modi highlighting a shared India-EU vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, both sides also committed to explore a security and defence partnership.

"We have prepared a blueprint for collaboration in the areas of Trade, Technology, Investment, Innovation, Green Growth, Security, Skilling and Mobility. We have directed our teams to conclude a mutually beneficial Bilateral Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year," Prime Minister Modi said in his press statement after the meeting.