European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will attend India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26 as chief guests. Their visit is expected to align with the India–EU Summit, where both sides will focus on advancing talks on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Officials say the summit will aim to push the long-delayed trade pact closer to completion.

Strong signal of deeper India–EU ties

The presence of the European Union’s top leadership at Republic Day carries strong diplomatic symbolism. It reflects New Delhi’s intention to deepen strategic and economic engagement with the EU.

The twin events point to a renewed push at the highest political level to strengthen cooperation between India and the 27-nation bloc.

Momentum in relations after recent engagements

India–EU ties have gained momentum in recent months. A major boost came with the visit of EU Commissioners to India in February 2025. That visit helped lay the groundwork for wider cooperation in areas such as trade, defence, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

Officials on both sides see the upcoming summit as a chance to convert this momentum into concrete outcomes.

Free trade talks back on track

India and the European Union resumed negotiations on the long-pending FTA on December 8 in New Delhi. The talks are part of an effort to conclude the agreement, which has been under discussion for more than a decade, by the end of this year.

The renewed engagement comes at a crucial stage as both sides try to bridge remaining gaps in the ambitious deal.

Key issues on the table

According to a report by Moneycontrol, the talks are expected to focus on unresolved issues across several areas. These include trade in goods and services, investment rules, government procurement, and regulatory standards.

Discussions will also cover sanitary and technical regulations that affect market access.

However, several major sticking points remain. These include the EU’s proposed carbon tax, access to European markets for Indian automobiles and steel, rules of origin, and barriers in the services sector.

Delegations led by senior trade officials

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is leading the Indian delegation in the negotiations. On the EU side, the talks are being led by Sabine Weyand, Director-General for Trade at the European Commission.

Weyand’s return to New Delhi within a month underlines the urgency both sides attach to closing the deal.

Push to close a decade-long pact

With top EU leaders attending Republic Day and trade negotiators back at the table, India and the EU appear determined to move the FTA toward conclusion.

Officials say the coming weeks will be critical in deciding whether the two sides can resolve long-standing differences and seal one of their most ambitious trade agreements.