Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday, where the two leaders discussed key global and bilateral issues, including the long-anticipated India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the conflict in Ukraine, and the strategic India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi described the conversation as “excellent” and said the two leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to deepening the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.
“Had an excellent conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. We reaffirmed our joint commitment to deepen the India-Italy Strategic Partnership and shared interest in bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,” Modi said.
The Indian Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude for Italy’s continued support for the India-EU FTA, which is currently under negotiation.
“Thanked PM Meloni for Italy’s proactive support for concluding a mutually beneficial India-EU trade agreement and promoting connectivity through the IMEEC initiative,” he added.
India and the European Union resumed negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement in June 2022, after an eight-year hiatus. The talks aim to boost trade and investment ties between the two major economies. The 13th round of negotiations is currently underway in New Delhi, with both sides targeting a deal by the end of this year.
The FTA is expected to cover a wide range of sectors including goods, services, investment, digital trade, and intellectual property. A successful agreement would significantly deepen India’s access to EU markets and enhance bilateral trade volumes.
Both Modi and Meloni also discussed the situation in Ukraine, where the war triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion continues to cause global disruptions. While India has maintained a non-aligned stance, it has consistently called for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Meloni and Modi agreed on the importance of bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict and shared their respective perspectives on global stability and security.
The leaders also reviewed progress on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), a mega-infrastructure initiative first announced during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023. The corridor aims to link India, the Middle East, and Europe through a network of railways, roads, and shipping lanes, promoting greater trade, energy cooperation, and connectivity.
The IMEEC is seen as a counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and includes key partners such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and several European nations.