EU Ambassador's speech at the Ryan Leadership Summit 2025

EU Ambassador's speech at the Ryan Leadership Summit 2025

Good morning everyone. Namaskar !

Dear Director Marwah, Dear Director Pinto, distinguished teachers, And most importantly-dear students of Ryan International and St. Xavier's, thank you for having me here !

As an Academic myself who continues teaching activities as Visiting Professor, great pleasure to be with you. Very rewarding experience as it is always about mutual learning and growing, through questioning, intellectual curiosity, debating and engagement.

Now you gather here for a Model UNs, which are famous for heated debates and engagement. I guess many of you will be carried away by their tasking !

But beyond the excitement, there is something deeper, as UN the Secretary General said in his message this year to Model United Nations : it is about believing in the power of global cooperation and unite behind global solutions to global problems.

This year will mark UN@80. Unfortunately, there will be little rejoicing during the UNGA starting in a few weeks in New York. There is a general undermining of the multilateral system and assault on international law at a time we need them most to address global challenges. Might is not right when it leads to unilaterally imposed measures, use of coercion, unilateral invasion of a country.

Global cooperation and the UN Multilateral system matter to the EU. We stand as champions of the Multilateralism. It is actually in our DNA. And I will explain why in a moment. As promising students, I can only wish you to have a great "tryst with your own destiny." Now as we may all know, this phrase comes from Jawaharlal Nehru's speech at the dawn of India's independence. He also meant that every generation gets its own chance to shape history- to meet its destiny. And sitting here today, you are preparing for your own moment, in your own way. I am looking right here at India's bright future, carried by its talented youth: future engineers, business people, diplomats, leaders.

Talking of destiny-this conference could not have come at a more opportune time. In today's volatile geopolitical and economic landscape, the EU and India emerge as natural partners with strongly converging interests and shared values. Our leaders are determined to elevate the EU-India Strategic Partnership and harness its immense potential.

Just earlier this year, the entire European Commission-President Ursula von der Leyen and her College of Commissioners-came to New Delhi. That was not just a diplomatic courtesy. It was a testament to how central India is to Europe's vision of the world. And it goes both ways.

For India, the EU is not only a key trading partner, but also a security partner and an ally in shaping the global conversation and governance on issues such as climate change, biodiversity, digital transformation, AI, or Space.

Beyond economic and diplomatic ties, people, through culture, learning, exchanges are truly connecting India and Europe together.

• Did you know that both EU and India are driven by a common motto? EU's United in Diversity and India's Unity in Diversity.
• EU made up of 27 MS vs India made up of 28 states and 8 union territories. EU has 24 official languages vs India has 22 official languages
• Both home to different religions, traditions and cultures, Both stand for embracing differences as enriching qualities that strengthen the society.
• Did you know that close 900.000 Indian citizens travelled to the EU (Schengen zone) last year on short term visa ?
• Did you know that Indian students form the largest cohort of laureates of our Master level university exchange programme, called Erasmus Mundus ? o Did you know that EU and India stand as the two largest democracies?

In short, our destinies are deeply connected. The choices we make together, whether on green energy, technology, or education, will shape not just our two regions, but also the world at large.

I have been asked to share my perspective on diversity, unity, and leadership, themes that resonate strongly with both Europe's recent history and India's plural fabric.

The EU experience

Let me share a little more about the EU. It took decades of effort, compromise, long negotiations for Europe to rise from the ashes of World War II and become what it is today, an advanced economy and open society.

The European Union is a unique experiment in political history: It is a union of sovereign states that willingly pool their resources and powers to form a common legal and institutional order. There is truly no other parallel in the world. We created a framework that turned rivalry into cooperation, and borders into bridges.

Post-war cooperation led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951-the very foundation of today's EU. Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, and Germany agreed to merge the industries that had once fuelled their conflicts, guided by Robert Schumann's bold vision to make war between France and Germany 'not only unthinkable, but materially impossible.'

Integration then proceeded step-by-step. Common markets, shared policies, economic and monetary unions, and increasingly coordinated security policies showed that when countries choose to work together, they can achieve far more than they could alone. From the outset, the EU has been not just about economics-it has been about politics, cooperation, and making choices together for the common good.

Today, the European Union is an economy worth over 19 trillion euros. We are a democracy of 450 million people, enjoying a quality of life that ranks among the highest in the world. The EU is also a global leader in clean technology and the green transition, working to reduce net emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

This experiment of voluntary collaboration-where member states do not surrender their sovereignty but exercise it jointly at a higher level-is what makes the EU so innovative. It has taught us that complex challenges-whether in trade, social policy, or international relations-can be addressed through dialogue, compromise, and shared responsibility. This experiment has shaped us as …

a Union of incredible resilience and creativity, - one of the three main centres of production, innovation and tech in the world and the Largest trading block.

a Union that remains a beacon a prosperity and stability;

a Union that stands with resolve to defend its values and its interests, its people and its security, in the face of adversity.

a Union that has no aggressive agenda or aspiration to dominance;

a Union that promotes global cooperation and solutions with interested countries.

A Union that stands as a reliable trusted partner and seeks to develop solid partnerships. India in this respect has become as an incredibly important and defining strategic partner for the EU.

We have made our own journey in developing strategic autonomy, and sovereignty- taking responsibility for our own destiny. Along the way, we have faced a series of shocks: Brexit, challenges to the transatlantic bond under the Trump administration, the COVID-19 pandemic, China's increasingly assertive global stance, and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Each shock has prompted adjustment, reflection, and ultimately, greater European engagement rather than retreat. It is for this reason that many around the world now look to the EU integration model as an example to learn from.

Let me turn to EU and India

Second part: Overview of EU-India relations

When the EU and India come together, we do not just cooperate; we resonate. We know the power of diversity, and the strength that comes from managing it well.

India was among the first to establish diplomatic relations with the then European Economic Community in the 1960s in the same headquarters we share today.  In 2004, we decided to upgrade our relations to a "strategic partnership" and last year we celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Today, we have close to 50 bilateral thematic and institutional dialogues and I will expand on some of them now.

We share the same core principles and values-representative democracy, respect for the rule of law, and a strong commitment to a rules-based international order that are foundational elements of our partnership.

As strategic partners, we have a common interest in each other's freedom, security, prosperity, and sustainability. It is time we jointly defend this diversity and these values, forging a mutually beneficial partnership. This is indeed an EU-India Ek Saath moment.

Economic and technology  On the economic front, the EU has become India's largest trading partner with

€123.7 billion for the year 2023-2024-12.2% of India's total trade. We are before the US and before China.

India, for the time being, only accounts for 3% of the world trade. This is not commensurate to its size and to its potential. The relaunching of our Free trade agreement negotiations in 2022 in this case can be a game changer.

We are also cooperating on technology bringing together two robust ecosystems, connecting research, development, and innovation. Environment, Connectivity, and Sustainability

Another dimension is our Partnership at global level.

India stands in a unique position-a natural bridge between the Global South and the rest of the world, between the Indo-Pacific and Europe. And Europe is ready to support this vision. Through Global Gateway, our €300 billion global infrastructure initiative, we can invest in projects that strengthen energy networks, improve connectivity, and foster sustainable growth-not just within India, but between India and the world.

We also have a strong climate and energy partnership. EIB is ready to put 1 billion in supporting the development of green hydrogen in India. Security and Defence

Increasingly India and the EU are cooperating in Security and Defence. In areas such Maritime Security, Cyber, Counter-terrrorism, non-proliferation.

This covers policy dialogues but also very concrete operational level eg in Indian Ocean or cooperation between Central Bureau of Investigation with Europol - its European equivalent.