Prime Minister Narendra Modi met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen here on Monday and the two leaders had productive discussions during a review of India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology and climate action.
Prime Minister Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the G-7 summit, met von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau, the summit’s picturesque site in southern Germany.
He said he had an “excellent meeting” with the president of the European Commission.
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“President @EU_Commission @vonderleyen and I had an excellent meeting earlier today. We discussed ways to deepen investment ties, efforts to tackle climate change, promote digital cooperation and other important issues,” Modi said on Twitter.
President @EU_Commission @vonderleyen And I had an excellent meeting earlier today. We discussed ways to deepen investment ties, efforts to combat climate change, promote digital cooperation and other important issues. pic.twitter.com/dDpbMBlWHw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 27, 2022
“PM @narendramodi and @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen held talks on the sidelines of G-7 summit. Issues such as strong trade ties, cooperation to mitigate climate change, emerging technologies and cultural ties were discussed during the meeting,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
time @narendramodi and chairman of @EU_Commission @vonderleyen Talked on the sidelines of the G-7 summit. Issues such as strong trade ties, cooperation to mitigate climate change, emerging technologies and cultural ties were discussed during the meeting. pic.twitter.com/v5V6IMUJij
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 27, 2022
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that during their talks, Prime Minister Modi and the President of the European Union Commission welcomed the resumption of negotiations on trade, investment and geographical indication agreements.
“Had fruitful discussion between PM @narendramodi and President @EU_Commission @vonderleyen on the margins of G7. Reviewed India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology, climate action. Welcomed the resumption of talks on trade, investment and GI agreements,” Bagchi said on Twitter.
Useful discussion between PM @narendramodi & President @EU_Commission @vonderleyen On the margins of the G7.
Reviewed India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology, climate action. Welcomed the resumption of negotiations on trade, investment and GI agreements. pic.twitter.com/fLMrOp8aJh
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) June 27, 2022
“PM @narendramodi met President of @EU_Commission @vonderleyen. The #IndiaEU relationship is shaped by ever-increasing bilateral cooperation and partnership,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the official account of India’s public diplomacy, said on Twitter.
This was his second meeting in two months after visiting New Delhi in April, his first visit to India as President of the European Commission.
In April, Prime Ministers Modi and von der Leyen announced the establishment of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, a high-level strategic mechanism to address key trade, economic and technological challenges.
In their talks, the two sides also agreed to launch the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a strategic coordination mechanism to address the challenges of nexus of trade, credible technology and security.
India and the European Union are ready to strengthen comprehensive trade and investment agreements before the election cycle of both sides begins in 2024, EU Ambassador to India Ugo Astuto said on April 29.
India is the second country after the US to have such a mechanism along with the 27-nation European Union.
In May last year, India and the European Union (EU) announced the resumption of talks for a balanced and comprehensive trade agreement after a gap of more than eight years.
The European Union is one of the largest investors in India, accounting for 16 per cent of the total investments received between 2015-20 (euro 83 billion between 2000 and 2021).
The European Union said there are 4,500 European companies operating in India, contributing to the creation of over 1.5 million direct and 5 million indirect jobs in the country.
The Investment Facilitation Mechanism was set up in 2017 to facilitate entry of EU companies proposing to invest in India.
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