European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen To Visit India Next Week

The President of the European Commission (EC) will visit India for two days to meet the President of India and the Prime Minister of India. In the meeting, the leaders will discuss the key issues including the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Ukraine war, the Investment Protection Agreement and the Geographical Indications agreement. The EC’s President will visit The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) campus and deliver an address at the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

The India-EU FTA talks were started in 2007 and later it was stopped due to the differences between them. Again the FTA talks will be resumed in this meeting. India and the 27-member bloc are set to restart negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in June 2022. EU India's trade in goods has increased by 41% and trade in services has jumped by 76%. 

In the discussion with the Prime Minister, the EC’s President will discuss the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, the energy and digital transition, connectivity, security and defence, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific will be at the centre of her conversations in Delhi.

   Important points for the exam:

• The President of the European Commission (EC) will visit India for two days to discuss various key issues with the President of India and the Prime Minister of India.
• The key issues to discuss were India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Ukraine war, the Investment Protection agreement, the Geographical Indications agreement and environmental-related issues.
• The European Union is one of the largest investors in India i.e. 16% of total investments received between 2015-20.

   Facts to know:

• The European Commission - the executive branch of the European Union was established in 1958.
• President of the European Commission: Ms.Ursula von der Leyen.
• Headquarters of the European Commission: Brussels, Belgium.