PM Modi Engages European Leaders to Strengthen Strategic Partnerships at AI Summit
Following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a series of high-level bilateral meetings on Wednesday with leaders from Spain, Finland, Estonia, Croatia, and Serbia. These discussions aimed at significantly deepening cooperation across critical domains such as technology, innovation, security, and defence with European nations.
This diplomatic push comes as Europe demonstrates its strongest-ever participation in the ongoing AI Impact Summit in India, with official sources confirming that 26 European countries are officially represented. This marks the largest presence of European nations at any technology-focused event hosted in India, highlighting the growing strategic importance of the India-Europe partnership.
Unanimous European Support for India-EU Free Trade Agreement
During the official talks, European Union leaders and member states conveyed their unanimous and strong support for the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Government sources revealed that these leaders have pledged to advocate for its prompt ratification within the European Council and the European Parliament.
"They are all keen to enhance trading ties with India taking advantage of the FTA, creating new opportunities and jobs for people," stated a government official. Both Prime Minister Modi and the European leaders hailed the FTA as a major milestone that promises to unlock immense trade and investment potential between India and Europe.
Key Bilateral Meetings and Agreements
In his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister Modi endorsed the ongoing defence cooperation between the two nations. They welcomed the progress in the Tata-Airbus collaboration for the C-295 transport aircraft final assembly line in Vadodara, emphasizing the importance of defence industrial collaboration based on co-development and co-production models.
Prime Minister Sanchez highlighted the significance of the AI Summit, expressing confidence that its outcomes would meaningfully contribute to shaping global AI governance frameworks. He also backed closer India-Spain cooperation to leverage artificial intelligence's potential for inclusive development and broader societal benefits.
"They reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised the need for strengthened international cooperation to combat terrorism," noted an official readout from the meeting.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet with leaders from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Slovak Republic, and Liechtenstein over the next two days, further expanding this diplomatic outreach.
Europe's Critical Role in AI and Technology Innovation
For India, a robust European presence was deemed essential for the success of the AI Summit, as Europe remains a global hub for cutting-edge AI innovation, digital governance, and responsible AI frameworks. Government officials pointed out that the European Union plays a prominent role in setting global norms, including for artificial intelligence, and is the first bloc worldwide to enact comprehensive AI legislation.
While France is playing a key role in AI governance and applications, and the United Kingdom organized the inaugural AI summit in 2023, the Netherlands and Belgium host critical companies in the semiconductor supply chain, such as ASML and IMEC, respectively.
Germany stands as Europe's leading semiconductor hub, and Estonia is recognized as a global leader in artificial intelligence, ranking sixth worldwide for AI startups. "India is working closely with several European countries to learn from one another and expand AI-led growth and development," emphasized an official.
Expanding Bilateral Trade and Technological Collaboration
During his meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister Modi called for doubling bilateral trade and enhancing technology collaboration. This includes co-development in quantum computing, 6G technology, renewables, circular economy initiatives, and defence sectors. Both leaders agreed that the India-EU FTA will serve as a catalyst for shared progress and prosperity.
Similarly, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, in his discussions with Modi, advocated for the early implementation of the India-EU FTA to boost bilateral trade between the two nations.
"In recent diplomatic engagements, Europe has expressed an unambiguous vote of confidence in the vitality of the India-Europe Strategic Partnership, anchored in AI, digital innovation, strategic cooperation, economic growth, and shared global priorities," concluded an official, summarizing the strengthened ties emerging from these high-level interactions.
