European Union called India an important partner

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday underlined the importance of her visit to India, which she described as a symbol of the strong partnership between the European Union and India. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hosting the EU College of Commissioners.

After meeting Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, von der Leyen posted on Instagram, “Prime Minister Modi, thank you for hosting us in New Delhi. This visit reflects the importance the European Commission attaches to our partnership with India. I also appreciate our personal friendship.”

During the meeting, the two sides held extensive discussions on strengthening the India-EU Strategic Partnership and important connectivity projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor.

The EU chief said, “As we enter the third decade of the EU-India strategic partnership, it is clear that the best is yet to come. Together, we can shape the future and make this one of the defining partnerships of this century.”

Von der Leyen arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. She said on the social media handle X, “Landing in Delhi with my team of commissioners. In an era of conflict and intense competition, trusted friends are needed. For Europe, India is such a friend and strategic ally. I will discuss with Prime Minister Modi how to take our strategic partnership to the next level.” This is the first visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India.

This is Ursula von der Leyen’s third visit to India. She previously visited the country for a bilateral official visit in April 2022 and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023. Prime Minister Modi and the EU President have been meeting regularly on the sidelines of multilateral meetings.