A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous, and secure, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, after witnessing the 77th Republic-Day celebrations at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi.
Her remarks come a day ahead of the India-EU summit.
"It is the honor of a lifetime to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations. A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit," Von der Leyen said on social media after the ceremony.
Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa attended the Republic-Day parade as chief guests. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, several other Union ministers, the country's top military brass, foreign diplomats and senior officials were among those who attended the grand parade.
Von der Leyen’s remarks come a few days after she said India and EU are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement, "indeed, some call it the mother of all deals." She had said the deal would create a market of two billion people and "crucially, that would provide a first mover advantage to Europe with one of the fastest growing and most dynamic countries."
The EU market accounts for about 17 per cent of India's total exports, and the bloc's exports to India constitute 9 per cent of its total overseas shipments. India's bilateral trade in goods with the EU was $136.53 billion in 2024-25 (exports worth $75.85 billion and imports worth $60.68 billion), making the EU India's largest goods trading partner.
As per reports, the EU, with a GDP of about $20 trillion and a population of over 450 million, is a major global trade player, exporting about $2.9 trillion and importing more than $2.6 trillion annually, reports PTI.
Costa and von der Leyen, accompanied by a high-powered delegation, will hold summit talks with Modi on Tuesday.