Amid rapidly shifting global dynamics, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be visiting New Delhi on 27-28 February accompanied by as many as 26 EU Commissioners to confer with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian government leaders and officials. 

“The unprecedented visit highlights the strong momentum in EU-India relations. It follows President von der Leyen's announcement of  a new strategic agenda with India   to be presented this year at the EU-India Summit. The visit emphasises the importance of strengthening ties in key areas vital to the prosperity and security of both Europe and India,” noted an European Commission statement .

On her part, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “In this era of intense geostrategic competition, Europe stands for openness, partnership, and outreach.

We seek to deepen ties with one of our most trusted friends and allies.”

“ Europe and India are like-minded partners, bound by the shared conviction that democracy best serves the people. That's why one of the first visits of the new Commission is to India. We are committed to strengthening our strategic partnership to advance trade, economic security, and resilient supply chains, along with a common tech agenda and reinforced security and defence cooperation, ” she underlined.

Divergence in shared values

The visit of the EU’s executive body to New Delhi follows tumultuous days in EU-US relations that has left Europe in daze. US President Donald Trump's recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a meeting of their foreign ministers in Riyadh, and Vice President J D Vance's diatribe against Europe, which clearly indicated a sea change in US attitude on the Ukraine war and the virtual sidelining of Europe, has alarmed the EU. Trump condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "dictator without elections," and accused him and Europe of starting the war. He also vowed to end the Ukraine war as soon as possible with or without any European involvement.

The transatlantic alliance, considered to be a pillar of geopolitical stability, now faces an uncertain future and the realism that Europe can no longer depend on its security on the US has begun to creep in the minds of policymakers in Brussels .

The European Parliament’s powerful Foreign Affair Committee in a statement said “the latest political developments clearly show that the EU and its member states can unfortunately no longer fully rely on the United States’ Government to defend our shared values and interests, but must take their defence and security into their own hands.”

Von der Leyen thundered that "with or without the support of our partners, we cannot let Russia win. And the cost of insecurity – the cost of a Russian victory – is far greater than any saving we could make now. And this is why it is time for Europe to step up."

To demonstrate the EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine, Von der Leyen is leading a visit of the EU College of Commissioners to Kiev on Monday 24 February to mark three years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Strategic convergence with India

On their part, European media and analysts are positive about the future of EU-India ties and cooperation. “With Donald Trump steering the White House away from Europe, and with the Brussels-Beijing relations in cold water, the EU understands it must act sooner rather than later, and forge closer cooperation with what it considers “like-minded partners”, said the Brussels-based publication Euractiv.

“Reducing reliance on China and Russia and promoting a multipolar world are aims shared by the EU and India. While Europe seeks to collaborate with like-minded partners, India looks for strategic autonomy and diversified partnerships,” it noted.

Another Brussels-based publication Politico said the upcoming Delhi gathering is expected to release a seven-page joint statement which notes that “the deepening of bilateral relations and the growing strategic convergence between the EU and India respond to the shifting dynamics of the global geopolitical landscape and a common interest in promoting global stability, economic security, and sustainable and inclusive growth.”

The second EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will also convene during the Delhi visit. The objective of TTC is to boost collaboration on the digital transition, clean and green technologies and trade and investment. Concrete topics of discussion will include collaboration on digital public infrastructure and its compatibility, as well as resilience of key value chains and cooperation on global trade issues.

Since 2004, India has been a strategic partner of the EU, and 2022 celebrated the 60th anniversary of their relations.

The EU is India's largest trading partner, with trade in goods valued at 124 billion euro ( USD 129 billion) in 2023, with an increase of almost 90% in the last decade.

Around 6,000 European companies are present in India.

Technological partnership with India

Georgis Verdi , an analyst with the think-tank The European Council on Foreign Relations opines that “EU and India tech partnership could also help more effectively deal with the challenges presented by China’s technological power, by striving towards technological sovereignty and de-risking from Chinese providers. In addition, recent US foreign policy shifts—as well as its worrying tech agenda—should alarm both sides.

This alone could encourage them to develop a closer partnership to de-risk from US whims.”

Of course, he noted that “important divergences remain. India views Russia as a strategic ally and is unlikely to abandon this relationship, despite criticism from the EU towards Russia’s expansionist stance towards Ukraine and its attitude towards Europe in general. However, this divergence will not jeopardise the benefits of an ad-hoc technological partnership.”

During the visit, the College of Commissioners and the Indian government will hold a plenary session, chaired by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi. Members of the College will also meet their counterparts individually, while President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi will hold a bilateral meeting followed by a press briefing.

The EU and India resumed negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in 2022 following the visit of von der Leyen to New Delhi. The next round is scheduled on 10-14 March 2025 in Brussels.

(The author is an Indian journalist who is a long time resident in Brussels. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached nawabbk98@gmail.com )