European Council President Antonio Costa held out his Abroad Citizen of India (OCI) card throughout his handle on the announcement of the India-EU free commerce settlement (FTA). He stated his father’s household got here from Goa.
“I’m the President of the European Council however I’m additionally an abroad Indian citizen. Then, as you possibly can think about, for me, it has a particular which means,” stated Costa, holding out his OCI card for everybody on the gathering to see. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European delegation who have been current on the occasion have been seen applauding on the point out of Costa’s origins. “I’m very happy with my roots in Goa, the place my father’s household got here from. The connection between Europe and India is one thing private to me,” he stated.
Costa stated that the summit sends a transparent message to the world – that at a time when the worldwide order is being essentially reshaped, the EU and India stand collectively as strategic and dependable companions.
The European Council President stated he had three messages to share:
- India-EU should work collectively for shared prosperity and safety
- India-EU as champions of multilateralism should uphold worldwide regulation with UN Constitution at its core
- India-EU should present management in international points
Costa stated that commerce has all the time flowed between the 2 continents for hundreds of years, and is an important geopolitical stabiliser. He stated commerce has all the time been a basic supply of financial progress, and that it reinforces rules-based financial order.
“That’s why right this moment’s Free Commerce Settlement is of historic significance. One of the formidable agreements ever concluded. Making a market of two billion individuals. In a multipolar world, the European Union and India are working collectively to develop spheres of shared prosperity,” he stated.
