EU FTA declaration soon: India-Italy ties get further boost; Modi invited to visit Rome

India has intensified its engagement with the European Union as it continues talks for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), expected to be announced in the presence of the EU leadership as chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations in January.

This week India hosted EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic as well as Italy‘s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Antonio Tajani. This was Tajani’s second visit to India this year. There are reports that German chancellor Friedrich Merz could visit India early next year.

Italy is emerging as a key economic partner for India in Europe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to visit Rome in 2026. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit India for the AI summit in February.

Modi met Tajani on Wednesday, and both discussed “proactive steps” being taken by both sides to implement the Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029.

Separately, EU trade commissioner Sefcovic, who was in New Delhi for two days, held meetings with commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and foreign minister S Jaishankar.