Overview
- European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit India on January 25–27, serve as Republic Day chief guests, and co-chair the India–EU Summit on January 27.
- India’s commerce secretary says 20 of 24 FTA chapters are closed and teams are engaged in daily negotiations to finish a draft for leaders to consider at the summit.
- Ursula von der Leyen has indicated the agreement is being concluded without agriculture, addressing a longstanding political sensitivity on both sides.
- Key unresolved issues include the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and market access in sectors such as steel and automobiles, with options still under discussion.
- Officials have not confirmed a signing, though both sides see urgency to advance the deal as they also plan an India–EU Business Forum and explore security and defence cooperation deliverables.