EU Chief Praises India's Stability Role, Heralds 'Historic' Trade Deal

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that a successful India contributes to a more stable, prosperous, and secure world.
• She attended India's 77th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path as a chief guest, calling it an "honour of a lifetime."
• Von der Leyen is on a three-day visit to India, with summit-level talks scheduled with PM Narendra Modi to finalize a free trade agreement.
• The proposed India-EU trade deal is described as "historic," aiming to create a market of nearly two billion people and a quarter of global GDP.
• India is considering significant cuts in import duties on EU cars, potentially reducing tariffs from 110% to 40%, benefiting automakers like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.

Why It Matters: EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen lauded India's global stabilizing role and anticipates a landmark India-EU trade deal.