The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen, along with a delegation of 21 EU Commissioners, will visit India on February 27, 2025. This visit seeks to bolster EU-India relations amidst U.S. changes in foreign policy concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The discussions will target enhancing trade cooperation and aligning technology strategies while addressing sanctions against Russia following the ongoing conflict.
Stung by shifts in U.S. foreign policy regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen will lead a delegation of 21 EU Commissioners on a visit to India starting February 27, 2025. This significant gathering aims to strengthen Europe’s partnerships, with a focus on revitalizing EU-India relations, as outlined in an unprecedented EU statement citing the travel’s unique scale. EU officials announced the trip, originally mentioned by von der Leyen at Davos in January, had been in the works for months.
This visit coincides with the early anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and highlights the EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine, following a recent meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Western leaders. In line with their resolutions, the EU imposed another round of sanctions on Russia, despite the U.S. distancing itself by voting against an EU proposal for the withdrawal of Russian troops. This backdrop sets an intriguing stage for discussions in Delhi.
Meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet will also occur parallel to Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington, where he will engage with former President Trump on a proposed ceasefire deal—an outcome interpreted as a retreat for Ukraine. The timing of the EU’s visit is critical, with discussions expected to encompass EU sanctions alongside plans for enhanced cooperation.
The EU-India relationship has been under strain since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, with the last annual summit held in 2020. Although a leader’s summit occurred in 2021, progress on the longstanding EU-India Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) has been slow, hampered by tariff issues. The EU hopes the upcoming meetings will reinvigorate talks ahead of the scheduled trade discussions in March 2025.
The visit’s agenda includes a meeting of the Trade and Technology Council focusing on aligning artificial intelligence policies, as well as cooperation in semiconductors and green technology. The discussions will also touch upon updates to the EU-India Strategic Roadmap and may include topics related to climate change. Despite the EU seeking to pivot economic relations from China to India, overcoming the existing trade disparities presents a challenge, with EU-China trade significantly surpassing EU-India trade.
The upcoming visit of Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commissioners to India marks a critical effort to strengthen EU-India relations amidst shifting U.S. policies on Russia and Ukraine. The EU aims to reinforce its stance on sanctions against Russia while promoting greater cooperation on trade, technology, and climate change with India. As the two regions engage, the outcomes of these discussions could redefine EU-India diplomatic ties moving forward.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
