ECOFIN - Economic and Financial Affairs Council

01/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/25/2026 12:29

President Costa to travel to India for a high-level summit on 27 January 2026 and visit Vietnam on 29 January 2026 19:20 The President of the European Council, António Costa,[...]

The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will travel to India to represent the EU in the 16th EU-India Summit, scheduled to take place on 27 January.

The two Presidents will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for a summit aimed at building on the EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthening collaboration across key policy areas. Trade, security and defence, the clean transition and people to people cooperation will top the agenda of the discussions.

India is a crucial partner for the EU. Together, we share the capacity and responsibility to protect the rules-based international order. This meeting will be a key opportunity to build on our partnership and drive progress in our cooperation.

António Costa, President of the European Council

As guests of honour, Presidents Costa and von der Leyen will also participate in India's 77th Republic Day Parade celebrations on 26 January. This will mark the first time the leaders of the European Union have attended Republic Day Parade celebrations as guests of honour, signalling the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the EU and India.

In October 2025, the Council of the EU endorsed the new strategic EU-India agenda, and its objective of further developing EU-India ties. In so doing it placed specific focus on prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, and connectivity and global issues.

On 29 January, President Costa will visit Vietnam, in the context of the EU and Vietnam elevating their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. His visit, which comes on the back of the 35th anniversary of EU-Vietnam diplomatic relations, will include bilateral meetings with the State President, Luong Cuong, the Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, as well as the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Tran Thanh Man. President Costa will also visit the Hanoi Metro line 3 Project, co-financed by the EIB.

The European Union is committed to strengthening and deepening its ties with Vietnam, building on shared values and mutual goals. For 35 years, our partnership has grown in depth and ambition. I am honoured to travel to Vietnam to mark the upgrade of our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

António Costa, President of the European Council

Press opportunities

  • Press statement following the EU-India summit on 27 January at 13:15 (08:45 Brussels time)
  • Press statement in Vietnam on 29 January at 11:05 (05:05 Brussels time)
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