India, EU sign Free Trade Agreement conclusion document after summit talks

A historic breakthrough: India and the EU have officially signed the FTA conclusion document, uniting 2 billion consumers in a massive free trade zone. By sidestepping “mixed competence” hurdles, the deal heads for rapid implementation, slashing tariffs on cars, textiles, and tech

In a milestone described as the “mother of all deals,” India and the European Union have officially signed the conclusion document for their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday.

The announcement was made at Hyderabad House following a high-level summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa.

At a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the moment as historic, underlining the deepening partnership between India and the European Union.

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PM Modi praised von der Leyen as a global role model, saying “Ursula is the first woman president and an inspiration for the world.” He also noted the symbolic significance of both European leaders participating in India’s Republic Day parade, calling it a historic gesture that reflected the strength of India-EU ties.

Referring to India and the EU as the world’s two largest democracies, Modi said both sides were now “adding a new chapter” to their relationship, marked by expanded cooperation and shared democratic values.

Highlighting the scale of engagement, the Prime Minister said bilateral trade between India and the EU has reached $180 billion, while over eight lakh Indians currently live and work across European nations. Cooperation, he said, now spans a wide spectrum — from strategic technologies and clean energy to digital governance, innovation, and people-centric initiatives.

“We have established cooperation in all fields,” Modi said, adding that both sides have taken concrete initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people from all walks of life.

The agreement marks the end of nearly 20 years of intermittent negotiations and creates a free trade zone covering over 2 billion people, representing roughly 25% of global GDP.