India, EU negotiations to push trade, tech and defence ties

Negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) on a trade deal, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, and the creation of a bilateral strategic agenda will be in focus during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to New Delhi this week.

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI:

Von der Leyen and 21 members of the EU College of Commissioners, or political leaders of the 27 member states, are travelling to India during February 27-28 for meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government. The second ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will also be held during the visit.

Modi and Von der Leyen are expected to review the negotiations for a free trade agreement, which the two sides resumed in 2022 after a gap of almost a decade, and the two sides will also seek to advance cooperation in defence and security, including in the Indo-Pacific region, a senior EU official told a media briefing on Tuesday.