Austrian Ambassador to India, Katharina Wieser, has voiced her optimism about the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU), emphasizing the importance of closer collaboration between the two entities. Highlighting the positive trajectory of India-Austria ties, she stressed the need for strengthened India-EU relations.
In an interview with ANI, Ambassador Wieser expressed confidence in the ongoing FTA negotiations, stating, “I think it’s something that has to come and that will come. We are very, very optimistic now. We have the political commitment from the highest level… It has to be a beneficial partnership and agreement for both sides. There has to be enough in it for both sides to be able to sign this agreement. But I’m pretty sure that we will.”
She underscored the current geopolitical landscape as a key driver for this cooperation and noted that 2025 has been designated as the “EU-India Year,” reflecting the growing importance of this partnership.
Ambassador Wieser’s remarks came during a cultural opera music event organized by the Austrian and German Embassies in New Delhi. She acknowledged the strengthening ties between India, Austria, and the EU over the past few years and expressed hope for continued progress.
“Bilateral ties between India and the European Union as a whole have been intensifying a lot over the past years, as well as with individual countries like Austria. We’ve seen many high-ranking visits, including Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Austria last year. I’m convinced this trend will continue. There has been significant progress and intensification in all areas of our partnership—business, culture, and scientific cooperation,” she noted.
Highlighting Austria’s growing interest in India, Wieser observed an increasing number of Austrian delegations visiting India across political and technical sectors. “We are really in a very dynamic moment and seeing more and more interest from both sides—Austria towards India and the other way around. So I think we’re in a good space,” she concluded.
As India and the EU prepare for deeper engagement, the anticipation around the FTA and the promise of 2025 being a landmark “EU-India Year” signal a new chapter of collaboration and mutual growth.
