According to an official notification from the government, European Council President António LuÃs Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to India for the 16th India-EU summit on January 27.
They will also take part in the Republic Day parade the day before. In the midst of growing global unpredictability and its own disintegrating transatlantic alliance, the EU has finalised a new strategic agenda for India. The meeting will mark the culmination of months of hard work by both sides to strengthen bilateral ties.
Despite disagreements over India's relations with Russia, both parties are now working to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA), which is at the top of the list of expected deliverables from the summit, as well as a formal EU-India defense and security partnership to facilitate defense industrial collaboration.
Trade, security, defense, clean transition, and people to people contact will be at the top of the agenda, according to the EU. "India is an important EU ally. We have the ability and duty to defend the rules-based international order collectively. This conference will be a crucial chance to strengthen our alliance and advance our collaboration," Costa stated.
Additionally, the leaders will be attending the Republic Day parade celebrations as honoured guests for the first time, indicating, according to the 27-nation bloc, the strengthening of the bilateral connection between the EU and India.
The new strategic EU-India agenda and its goal of strengthening EU-India relations were approved by the EU Council in October 2025.
In doing so, it gave particular attention to global challenges, technology and innovation, security and defense, prosperity and sustainability, and connectivity, according to a concurrent announcement about the visit.
On the trade front, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a carbon tax on certain imports, and important industries like steel and automobiles have proven to be the most difficult for both parties to resolve.
Last week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the CBAM problem was being examined and that India is working to make sure that all of its interests are protected when the FTA is finalized.
Although India views the Paris Agreement as a matter of sovereignty that should not be combined with trade, Brussels also demands commitment to the international pact for climate action, which is inscribed in the FTA. Both parties are hopeful that high level political action will help end this impasse.
Since 2004, India and the EU have been strategic allies. On July 15, 2020, the 15th India-EU Summit took place virtually. According to the Indian government, "bilateral ties have expanded and deepened across a wide range of areas, particularly following the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025." The visit will further cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Additionally, the EU's plans to develop the EU-Africa-India Digital Corridor a undersea cable system that connects Europe to India via the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Eastern Africa within the IMEC framework are anticipated to make headway.
According to the new strategic goal, this EU endeavor will offer ultra high speed, secure, and diverse data connectivity that is resistant to disruptions brought on by sabotage or natural catastrophes.
