A major free trade agreement between India and the EU is also expected to be inked around that time
European leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa will be the chief guests for Republic Day 2026 on January 26, coinciding with the India‑EU Summit, where a major free trade agreement (FTA) is expected to be signed, as reported by CNN News18.
Meet the EU leaders joining India as chief guests for Republic Day
Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa are the two most influential figures in the European Union (EU). Together, they represent the executive and political consensus of the 27 member states.
Ursula von der Leyen is the President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch. Now in her second term (2024–2029), she acts as the bloc’s primary decision-maker on policy and law. Throughout 2025, her focus has shifted toward “European Sovereignty,” prioritising the strengthening of Europe’s defense industry and economic competitiveness.
Under her “Competitiveness Compass” initiative, she has been pushing for a more integrated single market to keep pace with the US and China, while also managing the complex “Green Deal” transition amid significant domestic pushback from the agricultural sector.
António Costa is the President of the European Council, having taken office in December 2024. As the former Prime Minister of Portugal, Costa is known as a master negotiator and consensus-builder.
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His role is to lead the summits of EU heads of state and find common ground on the bloc’s most sensitive issues. In 2025, his primary mission has been securing long-term financial stability for the EU, specifically through the “Multiannual Financial Framework” (the EU’s 7-year budget). He has also been a central figure in diplomatic efforts to maintain a unified European front regarding Ukraine, especially following changes in US foreign policy.
Together, von der Leyen and Costa manage the “Brussels machinery.” While von der Leyen proposes the vision and drafts the laws, Costa ensures that the 27 national presidents and prime ministers are on board to approve them.
FTA on the horizon
Trade negotiations between India and the EUare set to continue into the new year, with both sides aiming to finalise a long‑awaited free trade agreement (FTA) around Republic Day celebrations, according to EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič.
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The talks, which resumed after years of delay, have seen intensified engagement on issues like market access, services and investment, and officials from both sides have expressed optimism about reaching a conclusion soon.
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