The joint press conference took place on Tuesday at Hyderabad House in New Delhi after India and the European Union established their Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The press conference was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
European Leaders Call the Agreement Historic
- European Council President António Costa described the India- European Union partnership during his speech at the event as an enduring relationship. He described the agreement as a historic step forward. He credited Prime Minister Modi for taking strong initiative to make the deal possible. Costa said the agreement creates a higher level of collaboration between India and the European Union. He mentioned the deal serves as a crucial agreement between the two largest democratic nations in the world which he described as the world most extensive democratic system and which he chose to highlight India as the world most rapidly expanding leading economy.
- Ursula von der Leyen European Commission President spoke at the conference. She announced the successful completion of the agreement which she considered a significant accomplishment. She declared that India and the EU had created history by completing their deal.
Antonio Costa Shares Personal Connection to India
- António Costa revealed information about his personal connection to India during the event. He shared that his father was born in Goa but moved to Portugal when he turned 18. Goa existed as a Portuguese territory until it became part of India. Costa's father moved to Portugal after the territorial change.
- Costa explained that his father always remained connected to Goa. People called Costa by the nickname "Babush" which originates from Konkani the official language of Goa when he was a young boy. He stated that he possesses an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card and identified himself as an Overseas Indian Citizen.
- Born in Lisbon in 1961, Costa first visited Goa during his teenage years. He later served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015 to 2024. He visited Goa again in 2017 and said that, despite living in Lisbon, his father continued to reflect his connection to Goa in his writings.
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