Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha C.P. Radhakrishnan met the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) delegation at Parliament House in New Delhi today. The delegation was led by David McAllister. He said that in recent years India and the European Union have made notable progress in various sectors. He thanked the leadership of both India and the EU for advancing these ties.
Emphasising the shared foundation of India‑EU relations, C.P. Radhakrishnan said that as the world’s two largest democracies and open‑market economies, India and the EU represent diverse, pluralistic societies. Their interest lies in shaping a strong, resilient, multipolar global order. He noted that after the 2025 European Commission members’ delegation visit, institutional ties have yielded good results. The visit was headed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and adopted a comprehensive approach involving all relevant government departments.
Referencing high‑level meetings, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha said that the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission attended the Republic Day ceremony as chief guests. Their state visit on the occasion of the 16th India‑EU summit gave a huge boost to the partnership.
Focusing on trade and investment, the Vice President said India and the EU together represent a combined market of about 25 lakh crore US dollars and roughly two billion people. Describing the proposed free‑trade agreement as the “mother of all agreements”, he expressed hope that it will be signed this year and sought necessary cooperation from the European Parliament to realise it.
Highlighting cooperation in technology, research and innovation, the Vice President praised the crucial role of the India‑EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in high‑level strategic coordination. He also welcomed the conclusion of talks on India’s participation in the prestigious “Horizon Europe” programme. During the meeting, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha expressed deep condolences over the tragic rail accident in Spain.
The meeting also included Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Kumar Jha (Chairman, India‑Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group), Surendra Singh Nagar (Chairman, India‑Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group), Amar Pal Maurya (Chairman, India‑Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group) and P.T. Usha (Chairman, India‑Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group).