New Delhi | European Council President António Costa on Tuesday recalled his deep personal connection with India, saying the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) holds “special meaning” for him due to his Indian roots.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Costa revealed that he is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and proudly traces his family origins to Goa.
“I am the President of the European Council but I am also an overseas Indian citizen. For me, it has a special meaning. I am very proud of my roots in Goa, where my father’s family came from. The connection between Europe and India is something personal to me,” Costa said, while displaying his OCI card.
Calling the moment historic, he said the agreement marks a new chapter in India-EU relations across trade, security, and people-to-people ties. Costa also recalled that the trade negotiations were relaunched during the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting in May 2021, which he hosted in his previous role.
Costa has earlier spoken publicly about his Indian heritage. Addressing a Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event in 2017, he said his family hailed from Madgaon in Goa and that he still has relatives there.
Earlier in the day, India and the European Union formally sealed the long-awaited FTA, described as the “mother of all deals,” alongside two major agreements on security and defence cooperation and the mobility of Indian professionals to Europe.
The two sides also adopted a joint strategy document titled ‘Towards 2030 – A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,’ aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation over the next decade.
Short Summary
European Council President António Costa recalled his Goan roots and OCI status as India and the EU sealed a historic free trade agreement in New Delhi.
