Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from Spain, Finland, Estonia, Croatia and Serbia, signalling a renewed push to deepen India’s engagement with Europe across technology, innovation, defence and trade.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of the ongoing AI Impact Summit, which has drawn an unprecedented European presence. Officials said 26 European countries are represented at the event, making it the largest participation by the continent at a technology-focused gathering in India.

Strong Push For India-EU Free Trade Agreement

European leaders conveyed broad support for the early implementation of the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which is widely viewed as a cornerstone for expanding economic ties.

According to official sources, several countries also indicated willingness to facilitate swift ratification within European institutions once negotiations conclude.

“They are all keen to enhance trading ties with India taking advantage of the FTA, creating new opportunities and jobs for people,” a government source said.

The agreement is expected to significantly boost trade flows, investment and supply chain cooperation between India and the European Union.

Defence And Technology Cooperation Highlighted

In his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Modi reviewed ongoing defence collaboration, particularly progress on the Tata-Airbus C-295 transport aircraft programme, whose final assembly line is being established in Vadodara.

Both sides emphasised the importance of co-development and co-production in defence manufacturing, reflecting India’s push for self-reliance in strategic sectors.

The two leaders also strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and underscored the need for enhanced international cooperation to combat the threat.

Sánchez welcomed the AI Impact Summit and expressed confidence that its outcomes would help shape global governance frameworks for artificial intelligence, while supporting deeper India-Spain collaboration to harness AI for inclusive development.

Europe Seen As Key Partner In AI And Innovation

India views Europe as a crucial partner in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, digital governance and semiconductors.

Officials noted that the European Union plays a leading role in setting global regulatory standards and was the first bloc to enact comprehensive AI legislation. Several European countries also host key technology players in the semiconductor supply chain, including ASML in the Netherlands and IMEC in Belgium.

Germany remains Europe’s largest semiconductor hub, while Estonia has emerged as a notable digital pioneer with a strong AI startup ecosystem.

During discussions with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, both sides called for doubling bilateral trade and expanding collaboration in advanced fields such as quantum technologies, 6G communications, renewable energy, circular economy and defence.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković similarly advocated early implementation of the India-EU FTA to accelerate economic cooperation.

Broader Diplomatic Engagement Continues

Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to meet leaders from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Slovakia and Liechtenstein in the coming days, reflecting sustained diplomatic outreach to Europe.

Officials described the strong European participation at the summit as a “vote of confidence” in the India-Europe strategic partnership, which is increasingly anchored in technology, innovation, security cooperation and shared global priorities.

As geopolitical uncertainties reshape global alliances, both India and European nations appear keen to strengthen ties that combine economic opportunity with strategic alignment in emerging technologies.

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