India and the European Union (EU) are pushing to finish their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations by the end of this year. This decision was made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the update on Friday.

MEA Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal called the visit “historic and very important.” He explained that 20 Indian ministers held discussions with their EU counterparts on major topics like trade, technology, clean energy, the environment, and connectivity. This shows how strong the partnership between India and the EU is becoming.

Von der Leyen is in India for two days, along with top EU officials. She has visited India twice before, once in April 2022 for a diplomatic visit and again in September 2023 for the G20 Summit. However, this visit is special because it’s the first time the entire European College of Commissioners has traveled outside Europe. This proves how much focus the EU is putting on its relationship with India.

During the meeting, Modi and von der Leyen made it clear that finalizing the Free Trade Agreement should be a top priority. They told their teams to make sure negotiations are completed before the year ends. Lal said this is one of the most important outcomes of the visit.

Besides trade, India and the EU also made progress in other areas through the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). They focused on digital technology, clean energy, investment, and strategic partnerships.

The visit also led to several key agreements. India and the EU signed deals on semiconductors, strengthening supply chains, and talent exchange. In telecom, the Bharat 6G Alliance and EU 6G Smart Networks signed an agreement to work together. India’s AI Mission and the European AI Office also decided to strengthen their partnership in artificial intelligence.

On clean energy, both sides announced €60 million in joint funding for research on electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and sustainable plastics. They also agreed to create an India-EU Green Hydrogen Forum and hold a Business Summit on Offshore Wind Energy to improve cooperation in renewable energy.

During her visit, von der Leyen called India a “pillar of certainty” for Europe in these uncertain times. She stressed the need to work together in digital technology, AI, and defense. She also praised PM Modi’s speech at the Paris AI Summit and said she is confident that India’s upcoming AI Summit will be a big success.