New Delhi: President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to launch the European Union-India Trade and Technology Council, the 27-nation bloc's second such initiative after the one with the United States. PM Modi and the European Union president met in New Delhi for bilateral talks, during which they discussed progress in the India-EU strategic partnership and agreed to further collaboration in areas such as trade, climate, digital technology, and people-to-people ties.

The EU chief praised Prime Minister Modi's decision to establish the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, saying, "The EU has only one Trade and Technology Council, which is with the United States. Therefore, I believe it is past time for us to establish a second Trade and Technology Council with India. India is a technological force to be reckoned with." The EU chief further mentioned that the EU-India relationship will be 60 years old in 2022. "This relationship, I believe, is more vital today than it has ever been. We have a lot in common as vigorous democracies with robust economy, but we also face a difficult political terrain. As a result, I am grateful for this opportunity "she said.

At their meeting in New Delhi on Monday, the EU president and Prime Minister Modi decided to establish the EU-India Trade and Technology Council. According to a press release from the European Commission, this strategic coordination framework would enable both parties to address challenges at the intersection of commerce, trusted technology, and security, allowing the EU and India to increase collaboration in these areas. The Trade and Technology Council will also provide the political direction and structure needed to operationalize political decisions, coordinate technical work, and report to the political level to ensure implementation and follow-up in areas critical to the European and Indian economies' long-term progress.

EC President Ursula Von Der Leyen to visit India on April 24-25

European Union to provide more humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Moldova

Foreign Ministers of C5 meet on Ukraine, Czech EU presidency