President Juncker at the EU-India Summit in New Delhi
On Friday 6 October, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, will represent the European Union at the 14th EU-India Summit in New Delhi. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini will also attend the Summit, which will be hosted by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. In a year when the European Union and India are celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations, the Summit will provide an opportunity for leaders to review progress in many areas of the bilateral relationship and to discuss international and regional challenges. The 2016 Summit, held in Brussels, gave a new momentum to our Strategic Partnership through the adoption of a number of joint initiatives and declarations, including the EU-India Agenda for Action 2020. Leaders are expected to take stock of the implementation of this far-reaching agenda. The European Union is India’s largest trading partner and India the EU’s 9th, with the total value of EU-India trade in goods standing at €77 billion in 2016 and trade in services worth €28.4 billion. Leaders will discuss trade and economic relations, and will review the state of play and next steps towards relaunching negotiations for a free trade agreement. As regards global challenges of mutual interest, leaders will discuss the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, effectively addressing migration and refugee challenges, as well as pressing issues such as the situation in the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, eastern Ukraine, Afghanistan, and cooperation between the EU and India in the Indian Ocean and in Africa. A number of deliverables, including on investment facilitation, counter-terrorism, and research and innovation, are expected to be announced by the leaders at the Summit, who will hold a press point (available live on EbS) at 14:30 local time, 11:00 CET. After the Summit, also on 6 October, President Juncker will deliver the keynote address at an EU-India Business Forum, which will also be available live on EbS. With the European Union directly investing in and supporting the sustainable development of many Indian cities, including through loans of the European Investment Bank, President Juncker is expected to focus on the need for the European Union and India to take further steps to achieve their full economic potential. For more information on EU-India relations see the dedicated factsheet and the website of the EU Delegation.
