Brussels, March 16 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with top European Union leadership and foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, discussing the implementation of recent India-EU agreements and key global issues.
Jaishankar, who was on a two-day visit to the capital of Belgium, attended a meeting of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council at the invitation of EU High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas.
"I was delighted to meet my fellow Foreign Ministers from the European Union today in Brussels," Jaishankar said in a social media post, thanking Kallas for inviting him to the meeting.
He said a "new chapter" has opened in India-EU relations in 2026, and the foreign ministers discussed translating various agreements between the two sides into concrete outcomes.
"Our conversation today therefore covered trade, investment, technology, mobility, and defense in particular," Jaishankar said.
The discussions also reflected "stronger convergence between India and the EU in a multipolar world," he said, adding that the leaders exchanged views on the West Asia conflict, the Ukraine situation, and the Indo-Pacific.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and said her state visit to India in January marked a "turning point" in bilateral ties.
"We are following up vigorously on it," he said, appreciating her "insights on contemporary global developments."
Following his meeting with Jaishankar, von der Leyen in a social media post said that the EU and India are now focused on efficiently implementing their recently concluded free trade deal and security partnership.
"At the EU-India Summit in January, we concluded our Free Trade Agreement – the mother of all deals – and signed a Security and Defence Partnership.
"Now we are focused on efficient implementation, to deliver for the people of Europe and India as soon as possible," she said.
The two leaders also discussed developments in West Asia and Ukraine.
"De-escalation, stability, and energy security are our shared objectives," the EU leader said.
India and the EU sealed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – billed as the "mother of all deals" – following the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership on January 27.
Jaishankar also held bilateral talks with several European counterparts.
He met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and exchanged views on the West Asia conflict while reviewing progress in India-Germany ties following the state visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India.
Jaishankar also met Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and discussed "furthering cooperation in manufacturing, defence, and space".
Their talks followed the recent India visit of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, which Jaishankar said had provided "new momentum" to bilateral relations.
In another meeting, he held talks with his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis.
"Our conversation focused on enhancing diplomatic presence, strengthening connectivity, and promoting trade. We also discussed the repercussions of the West Asia conflict," Jaishankar said in a social media post.
Jaishankar travelled to Brussels on Sunday. The visit is the first high-level trip from India to Brussels-headquartered EU after the two sides finalised the landmark FTA.
The EU, as a bloc, is India's largest trading partner in goods.
For the financial year 2024-25, India's total trade in goods with the EU was worth about USD 136 billion, with exports around USD 76 billion and imports at USD 60 billion.