By IANS
New Delhi : The 27-nation European Union Friday did a subtle balancing act on the prospects of civilian nuclear cooperation with India, saying while it appreciated the Asian economy’s growing energy needs, it is yet to evolve a common position on supporting New Delhi in the NSG.
India and the EU ended their eighth summit on an upbeat note and agreed to push forward the signing of a comprehensive trade and investment agreement next year and signed two pacts in areas of science and technology and a programme for development cooperation for 2007-2010.
The two sides also agreed to promote “a good compromise” and “a definite roadmap” for control of greenhouse gas emissions post-2012 at the upcoming climate-change meeting in Bali, Indonesia, next month.
“We totally understand India’s growing needs for energy. We support the conversation between India and the US in this area,” Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates told reporters when asked about the EU’s stand on supporting India in the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
“We are trying to reach a common position (on the India-US nuclear deal),” Socrates said at a joint press interaction with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Portugal currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
Socrates, however, reiterated the EU’s common vision on nuclear energy with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) at its centre.
“The use of nuclear technology must be regulated in the world. The key mechanism for regulating nuclear technology is the NPT,” Socrates said, hinting that India, a non-signatory to NPT, may have to try harder to win the backing of the 45-nation NSG for global civilian nuclear cooperation.
The EU is watching closely New Delhi’s negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but it will be up to individual EU nations to decide their stand in the NSG.
Some European nations like Austria, Ireland and Scandinavian countries continue to be sceptical about the India-US nuclear deal due to its implications on the global non-proliferation regime.