Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a trilateral meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian, France, as India stepped up its engagement with European partners amid a packed diplomatic schedule.

It was wonderful meeting European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Evian earlier today. At the start of this year, India was proud to host them for our Republic Day celebrations. This has been a great time for India-EU ties… pic.twitter.com/jwVVUHhYK4

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2026

Earlier in the day, PM Modi also met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with the leaders reviewing the India-Germany Strategic Partnership and discussing ways to deepen cooperation across a range of sectors.

PM Modi, Merz Review India-Germany Partnership

Sharing details of the meeting, PM Modi said the discussions with Chancellor Merz were fruitful and covered a wide range of areas aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

“The talks with Chancellor Merz were very fruitful. We discussed ways to further cement bilateral cooperation by working together in trade, investments, circular economy, defence, IT and more. We also talked about boosting cultural linkages between our nations,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

The talks with Chancellor Merz were very fruitful. We discussed ways to further cement bilateral cooperation by working together in trade, investments, circular economy, defence, IT and more. We also talked about boosting cultural linkages between our nations.@bundeskanzler… pic.twitter.com/05wKDJvdzp

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2026

The meeting comes as India and Germany mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, with both countries seeking to impart fresh momentum to their strategic partnership.

Leaders Push for Early India-EU FTA

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the renewed momentum in bilateral ties and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in several sectors.

According to Jaiswal, the leaders discussed trade and investment, defence and security, green and sustainable development, technology, innovation, education and mobility.

He added that both sides agreed that early implementation of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement would further strengthen India-Germany relations. The leaders also exchanged views on key regional and global developments.

Trilateral Meeting With EU Leadership

PM Modi’s engagement with European leaders continued with a trilateral meeting involving European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The meeting underscored India’s growing engagement with the European Union and came amid ongoing efforts to deepen strategic and economic cooperation between New Delhi and Brussels.

The discussions took place on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, which has brought together leaders of major economies and partner countries in the French resort town of Évian-les-Bains.

Focus Shifts to PM Modi-Trump Meeting

Attention later in the day is expected to shift towards PM Modi’s much-anticipated bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The talks are expected to focus on expediting the proposed India-US trade agreement and enhancing cooperation in areas such as defence, energy and critical minerals.

The two leaders had briefly interacted and exchanged greetings during a gathering of G7 leaders a day earlier, marking their first in-person meeting in 16 months.

India Highlights Trust-Based Global Partnerships

During an outreach session at the summit on Tuesday, PM Modi emphasised the importance of trust in building strong international partnerships and highlighted India’s “humanity-first” approach to global cooperation.

He cited initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Global Biofuel Alliance, Mission LiFe and the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign as examples of India’s commitment to addressing global challenges.

The Prime Minister also reiterated that India’s approach to international cooperation is guided by the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which views the world as one family.

Packed Schedule at G7 Summit

Besides his meetings with European leaders and the upcoming interaction with President Trump, PM Modi is scheduled to participate in a G7 working session on “Reviving balanced, inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all”.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister held bilateral talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He also met Kenyan President William Ruto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung as India continued to expand its diplomatic outreach during the summit.

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