European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is on a tour of India these days. In the beginning of the Raisina Dialogue, he said that the relationship between India and the European Union is very important in the coming decade. The time to come belongs to India. He said that the objectives of both India and the EU are the same. When elections are held in India every five years, the eyes of the whole world are on India. The whole world wants to know who 130 crore people are going to choose after all.
He said, given the fundamental values and common interest of India and the EU, there is a need to go together. We believe in fundamental rights. This is how a democracy becomes strong. In this matter also India and our thinking converge.
The EU chief also said that democracy started in Europe about 2000 years ago, although now India is the largest democracy. He said that safe and free trade among themselves would open the way for progress.
Regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the EU chief said that such an attack on Kyiv is a strategic failure of Russia. He said Europe stood with Ukraine and would do everything possible to protect its sovereignty. This aggression of Russia can also be a threat to Europe. That is why it became necessary to impose sanctions on Russia.
Prime Minister Modi, EU Chief and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were present at the start of Raisina Dialogue. This is the seventh edition of Raisina Dialogue and will run till April 27. Raisina Dialogue has 6 agendas. These include business, technology and ideology, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, climate change, and water groups.