Anthony Agotha, Ambassador at Large-Special Envoy for Climate and Environment at the European External Action Service, emphasized the significance of the EU-India free trade agreement negotiations. Supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Agotha highlighted the necessity of this agreement for both regions.

In an interview with ANI, Agotha stated, From what I understand, both President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi have signaled a strong political will to push the free trade agreement forward. This provides crucial momentum, and now it is up to the negotiators to advance discussions in that direction. He further explained that every free trade deal is tailored to the specific economic conditions of the countries involved and expressed confidence that a successful agreement would be reached, benefiting both the EU and India. Agotha also discussed the European Union’s Green Deal, emphasizing how the EU has successfully decoupled economic growth from carbon emissions.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he stated, The EU is a reliable partner with a strong rule of law and the largest internal market. Alongside India, as two major democracies with open economies and pluralistic societies, we are here to stay. We initiated the Green Deal and refined it with initiatives such as the clean industrial deal and the affordable energy action package to ensure competitiveness. He highlighted that since 1990, the EU’s economy has expanded by 68 percent while reducing emissions by 30 percent. He reaffirmed that the EU remains committed to this path, rejecting any return to a fossil-fuel-dependent economy, particularly one reliant on Russian energy.

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