European Council President Antonio Costa, left, shows his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his press statement after reaching a free trade agreement with India in New Delhi, on January 27, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP
As India and the European Union announce their free trade agreement (FTA), European Council President Antonio Costa remembered his Indian roots, showing his Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card, and speaking about how the deal has a “special meaning” for him.
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He made the remarks during a joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
Mr. Costa spoke about his family’s roots in Goa. “Today is a historic moment. We are opening a new chapter in our relations – on trade, on security, on people to people ties,” he said.
“I am the President of the European Council but I am also an overseas Indian citizen. Then, as you can imagine, 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.” he added.
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“Also because we conclude today our trade negotiations we relaunched at the Leaders’ meeting that I had the pleasure to host, in May 2021, in my previous capacity,” he further said.
In 2017, Mr. Costa was addressing a Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event, saying he had his roots in Madgaon in Goa and was proud of his Indian origin. He said then that he still had relatives in Madgaon and said, “Madgoan is the place where my father spent his childhood and had a home. I will visit my relatives.”
Meanwhile, India and the EU on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) sealed a FTA — billed the “mother of all deals” — with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership unveiling a grand agenda to leverage trade and defence to shore up ties.
The two sides also inked two crucial pacts — one on security and defence collaboration and another on the mobility of Indian talent to Europe — after Prime Minister Modi hosted EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Mr. Costa for summit talks. The two sides have also agreed on a strategy document titled, ‘Towards 2030- a joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.’
Published – January 27, 2026 05:23 pm IST