EU Leaders In Delhi For Republic Day, Signal Momentum On India-EU Free Trade Deal

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 18:43 IST

Costa and von der Leyen are chief guests for Republic Day celebrations on Monday, ahead of an EU-India summit on Tuesday.

**EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this image posted on Jan. 24, 2026, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Jitin Prasada receives European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen upon her arrival in New Delhi. (@MEAIndia/X via PTI Photo)(PTI01_24_2026_000376B)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa arrived in Delhi on Sunday as India and the European Union aim to finalise a landmark free trade agreement, capping nearly two decades of negotiations between the two economic powerhouses.

Costa and von der Leyen are chief guests for Republic Day celebrations on Monday, ahead of an EU-India summit on Tuesday. At the summit, both sides are expected to formally announce the free trade pact, described by officials as the “mother of all deals."

“President Costa is in New Delhi for the 16th EU-India summit taking place on Tuesday," the European Council said on X, adding that the meeting “will be an opportunity to build on the EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthen collaboration across key policy areas."

‘Historic Trade Agreement’

Ahead of the summit, von der Leyen said, “We are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement," underlining the importance both sides place on the pact.

Bilateral trade in goods reached 120 billion euros ($139 billion) in 2024, an increase of nearly 90 percent over the past decade, while trade in services added another 60 billion euros ($69 billion), according to EU figures.

(With inputs from agencies)

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