India-EU ‘Mother Of All Deals’ set for year-end signing

India and the European Union are moving swiftly to sign their landmark Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year, following the conclusion of negotiations in January for what has been described as the “Mother of All Deals”.

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The proposed pact, covering goods, services and digital trade, is expected to create a vast free market spanning nearly two billion people and about a quarter of the global economy. It is also likely to open new avenues for trade, investment, technology cooperation and strategic engagement.

The momentum was evident on Wednesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian.

In synchronised posts on X, Costa and von der Leyen said it was a pleasure to meet PM Modi again “so soon”, adding that since the conclusion of the “mother of all trade deals”, both sides had been moving fast to deliver on their commitments.

“We will sign the Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year. And accelerate work on an investment agreement. We will also step up security and defence cooperation, And join forces for better connectivity by advancing IMEC, the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor,” they said.