New Delhi, April 4 -- India and the European Union are close to finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with negotiations progressing strongly, Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday during a special media briefing.

He made the remarks while speaking to media while briefing upon President Droupadi Murmu's upcoming visit to Portugal and Slovakia, from April 7-10.

Speaking on the India-EU FTA negotiations, Secretary Lal highlighted the recent vidit og the College og commissioners led by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and underscored how both PM Modi and the EC President had directed their teams to finalise the FTA within this year.

He said, "About the India-EU FTA,...