European leaders and delegation members on Wednesday conveyed unanimous support for the early ratification of the India-European Union (EU) trade deal in their discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian side during the ongoing AI Impact Summit.

Ahead of the Leaders’ Plenary, scheduled for Thursday, the day three of the summit had a distinctly European flavour. The PM held talks with several of the 11 European heads of state and government that have arrived in the national capital to attend the first such convening in the Global South. 

Besides expressing confidence in ratifying the EU-India trade deal in the European Council and European Parliament, the leaders backed India’s AI initiatives and its needs. “India is working closely with several European countries to learn from each other and expand AI-led growth and development,” an official said.

In recent diplomatic engagements, European leaders have expressed an unambiguous vote of confidence in the vitality of the India-Europe Strategic Partnership, anchored in AI, digital innovation, strategic cooperation, economic growth and shared global priorities, officials pointed out.

They said Europe remains a hub of cutting-edge AI innovation, digital governance and responsible AI frameworks. The EU plays a prominent role in setting global norms, including for AI, and is the first bloc globally to enact comprehensive AI legislation.