EU Ambassador Hervé Delphine on Friday said the India-EU partnership has reached a “completely new level” both strategically and qualitatively, describing the relationship as “boundless, ambitious and progressive”, PTI reported. Addressing the Europe Day celebrations in the national capital, Delphine said the India-EU partnership has become increasingly important in the 21st century, with both sides committed to expanding relations across multiple sectors. “We have taken our relationship to a completely new level, both qualitatively and strategically. The EU-India partnership is limitless, ambitious and progressive,” Delphine said. He added: “These achievements would not have been possible without the political conviction and trust shared by our leaders.” The envoy described the India-EU summit held about three and a half months ago as a major milestone, saying it combined symbolism, content and strategic importance. He pointed to the unveiling of a joint strategic agenda for the next five years, progress on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the signing of a security and defense partnership agreement, and action on the mobility framework as key outcomes of the summit. “The India-EU partnership is of real importance for the 21st century,” Delphine said.
The ambassador described the current stage as “Europe-India’s moment” and said that relations between India and the European Union and its member states are deepening “like never before.” The ceremony was attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, diplomats, academics and foreign policy experts. The envoy also noted the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa as chief guests in India’s Republic Day celebrations earlier this year. The proposed free trade agreement between India and the European Union is often described as the “mother of all” trade deals. “We are already India’s leading trading partner. With the FTA in place, we expect the value of our two-way trade to double in the coming years,” Delphine said. Referring to a recent report titled ‘Economic Footprint of EU Business in India’, he said nearly 6,000 EU companies operate in India, generate nearly six million jobs and export nearly 25 billion euros worth of goods from India globally. The European Union remains India’s largest trading partner in goods. During 2024-25, bilateral merchandise trade amounted to about $136 billion, including Indian exports worth about $76 billion and imports worth $60 billion. Delphine also spoke about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message of “not an era of war” resonated strongly with Europe. “(Prime Minister Modi’s) message – ‘Not an era of war’ – resonates deeply with Europe’s values and identity,” he added. He added: “The European Union is essentially a peace project, turning its back on centuries of continental wars.”