India and the European Union have agreed to finalize a long-pending free trade agreement this year and boost cooperation in trade, technology, connectivity and defense.

There was a faint air of desperation when Brussels’ technocrats came to New Delhi. Yet closer ties could benefit everyone.

Von der Leyen, accompanied by the EU College of Commissioners or senior political leaders of the bloc, began a high-profile two-day visit to India on Thursday.

The EU will ask India for help in enforcing sanctions against Russia. This issue will be discussed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bloomberg informs.

The EU hopes to deepen relations with India as the bloc's relations with the U.S. sour, along with common ground on their shared concerns over China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific,

PM Narendra Modi and EU leader Ursula von der Leyen emphasized a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and reiterated their support for the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine. Their stance aligns with the recent UN amendments led by France,

The delegations from India and the European Union held delegations on a range of topics in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EU President Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders have directed their teams to conclude the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations by this year,

EU Commision chief Von der Leyen said during a New Delhi visit that the EU was also considering a defense and security partnership with India. The EU and India are looking to boost ties ahead of possible US tariffs.

The EU's top team arrived in India on an "unprecedented" visit Thursday, aiming to broaden commercial and diplomatic ties and hedge against souring relations with the United States. The visit "will send the message that Europe is shoring up other partners,

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Union have agreed to push for the conclusion of a free trade agreement this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

Herve Delphin, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to India, spoke about the upcoming visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to India, describing it as a significant moment for India-EU relations.

Von der Leyen is in India with 22 members of the 27-strong EU College of Commissioners for the first such visit to a non-European nation since she got a fresh mandate last year