PM Modi, EU’s von der Leyen agree on year-end deadline for FTA, closer defence ties: Joint Statement. Leaders committed to task their respective negotiating teams to pursue negotiations for a balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial FTA with the aim of concluding them within the course of the year. Officials were asked to work as trusted partners to enhance market access and remove trade barriers. Both sides also committed to explore trilateral co-operation including in Africa and the Indo-Pacific. They also highlighted the need to cooperate in tackling common global challenges, including climate change, the governance of Artificial Intelligence, development finance, and terrorism in an interdependent world. They have committed to convene the next meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) at an early date to deepen cooperation in semiconductors and other critical technologies. The two leaders also expressed satisfaction at growing cooperation in the defence and security domain, including joint exercises and collaboration between the Indian Navy and EU Maritime security entities. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promote a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo- Pacific built on international law and mutual respect for sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes underpinned by effective regional institutions. They committed to undertake concrete steps for the realisation of the. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, deepen their cooperation in. the framework of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Leadership Group for Industry Transition (Lead IT 2.0), and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
