New Delhi, Sept 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a phone conversation with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, during which the two leaders discussed progress on the proposed India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
According to an official statement, Modi thanked Meloni for Italy’s “proactive support” towards the India-EU FTA negotiations, which the two sides are aiming to conclude by the end of this year. “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. Thanked PM Meloni for Italy’s proactive support for concluding a mutually beneficial India-EU trade agreement and promoting connectivity through the IMEEC initiative,” Modi said in a post on X.
Push for India-EU Trade Agreement
India and the EU relaunched talks on the long-pending trade pact in June 2022 after a hiatus of more than eight years. The 13th round of negotiations is currently underway in New Delhi this week, with negotiators working to finalize the agreement by December 2025.
The FTA, once concluded, is expected to boost trade flows, expand market access for goods and services, and open new opportunities for investment between India and the 27-member bloc, which is already one of India’s largest trading partners. Italy, a key member of the EU, has extended strong backing for the deal.
Discussion on Ukraine Conflict
During their talks, Modi and Meloni also exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has continued for over two years with devastating humanitarian and geopolitical consequences. Both leaders reaffirmed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an “early end” to the conflict.
India has consistently maintained that the crisis must be resolved through peaceful means, while Italy, as part of NATO and the EU, has supported Ukraine but also engaged with India on wider global stability issues.
Focus on IMEEC
Another key topic in the conversation was the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), an ambitious connectivity initiative announced on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023.
Billed as a landmark project, IMEEC aims to create an integrated network of roads, railways, and shipping lanes linking India with the Middle East and Europe, through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and onward to Europe via Mediterranean ports. The corridor is expected to reduce logistics costs, cut transit times, and strengthen energy and trade supply chains across continents.
India sees the project as a strategic alternative to existing trade routes, while Italy has positioned itself as a key European partner in the initiative.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Modi and Meloni reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the India-Italy Strategic Partnership, which has seen momentum in recent years across areas such as defense cooperation, clean energy, digital technology, and mobility of professionals.
The Italian Prime Minister has emerged as one of Europe’s influential leaders, and her government has consistently supported deeper India-EU engagement. Modi and Meloni last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, earlier this year, where they had underlined the importance of closer coordination on global issues.
Looking Ahead
With India and the EU pushing to conclude the FTA within months, and IMEEC gaining traction as a flagship connectivity project, the India-Italy partnership is expected to play a central role in shaping India’s engagement with Europe. The leaders agreed to continue high-level consultations and coordination in the coming months.
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