“A Successful India Makes the World More Stable”: EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen at Republic Day

New Delhi: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday underscored India’s growing global significance, stating that a successful India is vital to making the world “more stable, prosperous and secure.”

Her remarks came as she attended India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations as a chief guest, amid strong expectations of a landmark India–European Union free trade agreement.

Calling her participation in the Republic Day celebrations an “honour of a lifetime,” von der Leyen joined European Council President António Costa at the ceremonial parade held at Kartavya Path. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later described it as a privilege to host both EU leaders, highlighting the deepening partnership between India and the European Union.

In a post on social media, von der Leyen said, “A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit,” reflecting the EU’s emphasis on strengthening ties with New Delhi. She is on a three-day official visit to India and is scheduled to hold summit-level talks with Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday (January 27). The meeting is expected to culminate in the announcement of the conclusion of negotiations on the long-pending India–EU free trade agreement.

Prime Minister Modi said the presence of von der Leyen and Costa at the Republic Day celebrations underscored the “growing strength” of India’s partnership with the European Union. “Their visit will add momentum to the deepening engagement and cooperation between India and Europe across diverse sectors,” Modi said in a post on X, reaffirming India’s commitment to shared democratic values and strategic cooperation with the EU.

Ahead of her visit, von der Leyen had described the proposed trade pact as a “historic” agreement capable of reshaping economic ties between India and the 27-member European Union. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, she said the agreement would create a combined market of nearly two billion people, representing close to a quarter of global GDP.

She further noted that the deal would give Europe an early advantage in one of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic economies, aligning with the EU’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with emerging growth centres.

The European Union is currently India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods valued at $135 billion during the 2023–24 financial year. Negotiations on the free trade agreement were first launched in 2007, stalled in 2013, and revived in 2022.

As part of the ongoing discussions, India is reportedly considering significant reductions in import duties on automobiles from the EU. Under the proposal, tariffs—currently as high as 110 per cent—could be cut to around 40 per cent for a limited number of high-value vehicles, with further phased reductions over time. The move is expected to improve market access for European automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.