New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that India and Europe are bound not only by contemporary interests but also by shared values such as democracy, pluralism and an open market economy, asserting that the recently concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will bring “significant positive changes” to the lives of people on both sides.
Murmu received the Chief Guests of the 77th Republic Day celebrations — António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen — at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday evening and hosted a banquet in their honour.
Welcoming the European Union leaders, the President said their presence as Chief Guests on Republic Day, marking the first-ever participation of the European Union in India’s Republic Day celebrations, carried special significance and reflected the depth of mutual engagement and trust between the two sides.
Murmu noted that over the past two decades, the India–European Union Strategic Partnership has grown remarkably stronger, mirroring the shared aspiration to shape a stable, balanced and rules-based international order. In a period marked by uncertainty and conflict, she said, India and the EU share the responsibility of maintaining global stability, with their cooperation sending a clear message in support of diplomacy, multilateralism and peaceful coexistence.
Emphasising that economic cooperation is a key pillar of India–EU relations, the President said trade and investment are instruments of shared prosperity and social progress. She expressed happiness over the successful conclusion of the historic negotiations on the India–EU FTA, underlining that the agreement would have a tangible positive impact on people’s lives.
Murmu also highlighted the growing role of technology, saying its impact on society today is as profound as its effect on the economy. She said India and the EU can work together to promote “responsible innovation,” and added that the Security and Defence Partnership concluded during the visit would open new opportunities for defence industries on both sides.
The President further said that India is keen to strengthen cooperation with the European Union in clean energy, climate finance and sustainable technologies.
The three leaders expressed confidence that the important agreements concluded during the visit would further deepen the India–EU Strategic Partnership. They agreed that India and the EU are emerging as a force for balance, stability and optimism, and that together they can help shape a future that is sustainable and inclusive.
