Von der Leyen lauds 'dynamic new era' in EU-India relations as Modi visits Sweden

Published on 17/05/2026 - 20:38 GMT+2

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was successful Sweden connected Sunday, the 2nd halt of a circuit done Europe that besides includes the Netherlands, Norway and Italy.

In Gothenburg, Modi met with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson and European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen astatine the European Business Round Table for Industry to conscionable with European and Indian concern leaders.

"This volition besides deepen concern linkages betwixt India and Europe," Modi said successful a station connected X up of the event.

Von der Leyen reiterated the committedness to the EU-India commercialized agreement, dubbed the "mother of each deals" that the 2 sides inked successful New Delhi successful January, which is expected to beryllium finalised by the extremity of the year.

Covering astir 2 cardinal radical and astir a 4th of planetary economical output, the woody marks the biggest bilateral commercialized pact either broadside has ever signed, astatine a clip erstwhile planetary commercialized is progressively shaped by geopolitical tensions.

Under the agreement, India volition destruct oregon trim duties connected 96.6% of EU goods exports, portion the EU volition liberalise 99.5% of its tariff lines connected goods imported from India implicit 7 years.

"But commercialized is lone fractional of the equation," Von der Leyen said connected Sunday, adding that the "next measurement indispensable beryllium to present an concern agreement."

"This is the missing portion of the puzzle successful our reinforced economical cooperation," she added.

"All successful all, this dynamic caller epoch successful EU-India relations opens historical opportunities, and we are determined to prehend them," Von der Leyen concluded.

Modi and Kristersson besides discussed strengthening bilateral ties successful "trade, investments, innovation, defence and more."

On Saturday, Modi besides signed a strategical concern aimed astatine expanding practice successful trade, exertion and vigor with the Netherlands aft gathering Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

Next, Modi volition determination connected to Oslo for the 3rd India-Nordic summit, where's he's scheduled to conscionable with the leaders of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Talks volition absorption connected the nations' practice connected technology, renewable energies, defence, abstraction and the Arctic region, India's External Affairs Ministry said.

Modi's circuit volition decorativeness up successful Italy connected 20 May with a sojourn to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

In 2024, Modi and Meloni committed to a "Joint Strategic Action Plan," agreeing to physique practice successful a fig of areas including information and defence, arsenic good arsenic promoting "safe and ineligible migration channels."