PM Modi thanks EU chief for birthday wishes, hails launch of ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her birthday greetings and welcomed the adoption of the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening ties with the European Union.

“Always a pleasure to speak to President Ursula von der Leyen. Thank you for your warm birthday greetings. Delighted to know about the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ adopted today,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Always a pleasure to speak to President Ursula von der Leyen. Thank you for your warm birthday greetings. Delighted to know about the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ adopted today. India is ready to take the India-EU relationship to the next level. It is our shared commitment,…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 17, 2025

The Prime Minister expressed confidence in the future of the partnership, stating that India is ready to elevate its relationship with the EU.

“It is our shared commitment, shared goal, and shared responsibility,” he wrote.

PM Modi also reiterated India’s position on the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying, “We remain committed to an early and peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.”

The European Union on Tuesday proposed a new strategic roadmap aimed at taking its relationship with India to a significantly higher level.

The European Commission and the High Representative adopted a Joint Communication outlining a ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda,’ marking what Brussels described as a milestone in EU-India relations.

The initiative, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her Political Guidelines for 2024–2029, seeks to deepen and better coordinate cooperation between the two sides, enhance mutual prosperity and security, and jointly tackle global challenges.

“Now is the time to focus on reliable partners and double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values. With our new EU-India strategy, we are taking our relationship to the next level,” von der Leyen said in a press release.

“Advancing trade, investment and talent mobility. Strengthening our joint economic security. Advancing the clean transition and driving innovation together. Deepening our industrial cooperation in defence. Europe is already India’s biggest trading partner, and we are committed to finalising our Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year. Europe is open for business. And we are ready to invest in our shared future with India,” she added.

She also separately shared the news on X, saying, “Now is the time to double down on partnerships rooted in shared interests and guided by common values. With our new EU–India strategy, we are taking our relationship to the next level. And we are committed to finalising our trade agreement by end of the year.”

The communication follows a high-level visit by the EU College of Commissioners to India in February and outlines the bloc’s strategic vision for enhanced cooperation with New Delhi.

It identifies five key areas of mutual interest and complementary strengths, building on existing frameworks while expanding engagement in emerging domains.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi also thanked global leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for their wishes.

With inputs from agencies