Last Updated on January 16, 2026 12:21 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
Staff Reporter
President of the European Council António Luís Santos da Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will be Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavyapath on 26th January. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both leaders will be on a three-day State Visit to India from 25th January.
During the visit, the leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on the 27th of this month. President Costa and President von der Leyen will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi. An India-EU Business Forum is also expected to be organised on the sidelines of the India-EU Summit.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004. The 15th India-EU Summit was held virtually on 15 July 2020. Bilateral ties have expanded and deepened across a wide range of areas, particularly following the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February last year.
MEA said the participation of EU leaders as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day and the 16th India-EU Summit will further deepen the India-EU Strategic Partnership and advance collaboration in priority areas of mutual interest.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will pay a State Visit to India from January 25 to 27 as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004. The 15th India–EU Summit was held virtually on July 15, 2020, and bilateral ties have expanded and deepened across a wide range of areas, particularly following the historic visit of EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025.
The MEA said that the participation of EU leaders as Chief Guests at Republic Day celebrations and the 16th India-EU Summit will further deepen the India-EU Strategic Partnership and advance collaboration in priority areas of mutual interest.