Europe trip comes at a time when region is facing many challenges: Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Germany, Denmark and France on May 2-4.

This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit abroad in 2022.

Before leaving for Germany, Modi said: "My visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices. Through my engagements, I intend to strengthen the spirit of cooperation with our European partners, who are important companions in India’s quest for peace and prosperity."

He is visiting Europe at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war is going on.

In Berlin, Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany, and the two leaders will co-chair the sixth edition of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).

The biennial IGC is a unique dialogue format that also sees participation of several Ministers from both sides.

This will be Prime Minister’s first IGC with Chancellor Scholz, and also the first such Government-to-Government consultations of the new German government, which assumed office in December 2021.

During his visit, Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz would also jointly address a Business Event.

The Prime Minister will address and interact with the Indian community in Germany.

Speaking on his Germany trip, he said: "My visit to Berlin will be an opportunity to hold detailed bilateral discussions with Chancellor Scholz, whom I met at G20 last year in his previous capacity as Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister. We will co-chair the 6th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), a unique biennial format which India conducts only with Germany. Several Indian ministers will also travel to Germany and hold consultations with their German counterparts."

"I see this IGC as an early engagement with the new government in Germany, within six months of its formation, which will be helpful to identify our priorities for the medium and long term," he said.

"The long standing commercial ties between India and Germany form one of the pillars of our Strategic Partnership, and Chancellor Scholz and I will also jointly address a Business Roundtable with the goal of energising our industry to industry cooperation, which will help strengthen the post-Covid economic recovery in both countries," he said.

The Prime Minister will thereafter travel to Copenhagen on an official visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen.

He will also participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit being hosted by Denmark.

The bilateral component of the visit will include talks with PM Frederiksen as well as an audience with Queen Margrethe II.

The Green Strategic Partnership was the first of its kind arrangement between India and Denmark.

The visit would provide both sides an opportunity to review its progress, as well as examine ways to further expand our multifaceted cooperation. During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend an India-Denmark Business Forum and also address members of the Indian diaspora.

During the 2nd India-Nordic Summit, Prime Minister will also interact with other Nordic leaders - Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Iceland, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden and Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland.

The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.

The 1st India-Nordic Summit took place in 2018 in Stockholm.

On his return journey on 04 May 2022, Prime Minister will briefly stop over in Paris and meet Emmanuel Macron, President of France.

India and France are celebrating 75 years of their diplomatic relations this year and the meeting between the two leaders will set a more ambitious agenda of the Strategic Partnership.