European Council Chief Flashes OCI Card, Declares 'Proud of my Goa Roots' at India-EU FTA Event

• European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa surprised attendees by displaying his OCI card during the India-EU FTA announcement, emphasizing his Goan heritage.
• Costa's father was born in Goa and later moved to Portugal; Costa himself was affectionately called 'Babush' in childhood.
• He highlighted the India-EU FTA as a pivotal moment, reinforcing a rules-based economic system and advancing mutual prosperity, calling it 'historically important'.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the FTA as 'not merely a trade agreement, but a blueprint for shared prosperity', noting exponential growth in India-EU relations.
• Several crucial agreements, including a security and defence partnership and a green hydrogen task force, were exchanged alongside the FTA.

Why It Matters: European Council President Costa's personal connection to Goa underscored the deep ties during the India-EU FTA announcement.