Agencies | New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels in December, a visit that could provide an opportunity to advance the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Politico reported, citing two officials familiar with the matter.
Modi is likely to join EU leaders for the European Council’s final scheduled meeting of the year, set to take place on December 17-18, according to the report.
The proposed visit has not yet been officially confirmed, and diplomatic plans could change. “We are working on it,” one official was quoted as saying.
The possible visit comes months after India and the European Commission concluded negotiations on the comprehensive FTA on January 27, 2026, during the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi. The two sides also signed a security and defence partnership during the summit.
Although negotiations have been concluded, the trade agreement has yet to be formally signed. The pact must subsequently undergo the necessary ratification procedures before it can enter into force.
Modi’s presence at the December summit could provide an opportunity for both sides to review progress and potentially advance the agreement, although EU member states are still required to provide their final backing.
Government sources said last week that the FTA remains on track for signing before the end of 2026. Legal scrutiny of the agreement has reportedly been completed, while internal approvals and translation work are underway on the European side.
The proposed agreement covers a market of nearly two billion people and economies accounting for around a quarter of global GDP.
Under the pact, India is expected to receive duty-free or preferential access across 97 per cent of EU tariff lines. Key sectors expected to benefit include textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, among other export-oriented industries.
The EU, meanwhile, would receive tariff reductions or eliminations on more than 90 per cent of goods exported to India.
The agreement also covers 144 EU services sub-sectors and contains provisions aimed at facilitating the movement of skilled Indian professionals, potentially creating new opportunities for Indian workers and businesses in European markets.
India-EU economic ties have expanded significantly in recent years. Bilateral trade in goods stood at $136.54 billion during 2024-25, with Indian exports valued at $75.85 billion and imports from the EU at $60.68 billion.
Trade in services also remained substantial, reaching $83.10 billion in 2024.
If concluded as planned, the FTA would mark a major milestone in India-EU economic relations and could further deepen trade and investment ties between the two sides.
