Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday declared that the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signals not just progress, but the dawn of a “golden era” in India-Europe relations, as he held high-stakes meetings with President of Spain Pedro Sanchez and Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, in the national Capital.
In talks with Sánchez, the PM reviewed the full spectrum of India-Spain engagement, spanning defence, security, infrastructure, renewable energy, space cooperation and emerging technologies. But the central theme remained economic transformation powered by the India-EU FTA.
Calling the agreement “historic,” Modi said it would unlock sweeping new opportunities for businesses, workers and innovators across both nations. He underscored that the pact is not symbolic diplomacy but a structural reset in economic ties between India and Europe.
The leaders welcomed progress in the Tata-Airbus C-295 transport aircraft programme in Vadodara, describing it as a tangible example of defence co-development and co-production. The project, they noted, reflects India’s push for deeper industrial partnerships rather than transactional procurement.
Modi also highlighted the decision to mark 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence, stressing that cooperation in AI must be grounded in accountability and human-centric governance. Sánchez echoed the call for responsible AI frameworks even as he praised India’s convening of global leaders in the technology domain.
Both sides reiterated uncompromising condemnation of terrorism in all forms and agreed to intensify coordination on security challenges.In a separate meeting, Modi and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described the India-EU FTA as a decisive turning point. Modi credited Orpo for his personal support in pushing the agreement forward, asserting that it ushers in a transformative phase in India-Europe engagement.
The leaders focused sharply on future-facing sectors-quantum technologies, 6G telecommunications, renewable energy, circular economy systems and defence innovation. They stressed that digitalisation and sustainability are not optional ambitions but central pillars of long-term growth.
With technology firms from both countries expanding operations and partnerships in each other’s markets, the two sides called for doubling bilateral trade and accelerating co-development initiatives.
Amid the broader AI discussions, industry voices stressed the need to embed artificial intelligence deeply into critical infrastructure. With the India-EU FTA in place and AI cooperation high on the agenda, India’s engagements with Spain and Finland signal a sharpened focus on trade expansion, strategic technology partnerships and infrastructure modernisation.
