PM Modi flagged growing turbulence in the global order and called for reforms in international institutions, as India and the European Union concluded a major agreement.
As India and the European Union formally signed what has been described as the “mother of all deals,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for reforms in international institutions to better address contemporary global challenges, citing growing turbulence in the global and rules-based order.
Addressing a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa after the 16th India-EU Summit, PM Modi said the evolving global situation underscored the need for strong partnerships and a reformed multilateral system.
“Today, there are major turmoils in the global order. In such a situation, the partnership between India and the European Union will strengthen stability in the international system,” the Prime Minister said.
Global issues and multilateralism discussed
PM Modi said the leaders held detailed discussions on key global and regional developments, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to multilateralism and international norms.
“In that context, today we held detailed discussions on several global issues, including Ukraine, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. Respect for multilateralism and international norms is our shared priority. We also agree that to address today’s challenges, global institutions need reform,” he said.
‘Unprecedented’ visit by EU leadership
Welcoming the EU leaders, PM Modi described the visit as unprecedented and said it was a pleasure to host “two close friends,” President Costa and President von der Leyen.
He referred to Costa as the “Gandhi of Lisbon,” citing his simple lifestyle, and praised von der Leyen’s leadership, noting that she was Germany’s first woman Defence Minister and the first woman President of the European Commission.
EU echoes commitment to international law
Speaking at the press conference, European Council President Costa said that as the world’s largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, India and the EU share a responsibility to uphold international law, with the United Nations Charter at its core.
“As the world’s largest democracies and champions of multilateralism, the European Union and India share the responsibility to uphold international law with the United Nations Charter at its core,” Costa said.
He also recalled paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi earlier in the day alongside von der Leyen.
“I reflected upon his words, which still hold true today: peace will not come out of a clash of arms, but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds,” Costa said.
Landmark trade and security agreements
On Tuesday, India signed its biggest-ever Free Trade Agreement with the 27-nation European Union, marking a major milestone in bilateral relations.
PM Modi hailed the India-EU FTA as “not just a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity.”
The Prime Minister said India-EU ties have grown significantly in recent years, anchored in shared democratic values, economic complementarities, and strong people-to-people links. He noted that bilateral trade currently stands at EUR 180 billion.
India also signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, becoming the third Asian country to enter such an agreement after Japan and South Korea.
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