By Nivedita Das Kundu, EuAsiaNews,
New Delhi : The European Union and India are two major players of the new global scenario. The impact of the India-EU relationship with regards to a number of crucial international issues is paramount. EU-Indian partnership is based on the 1994 Cooperation Agreement and the Joint Political Declaration of 1993.
This was recognized in the year 2000 with the initiation of the EU-India Summit in Lisbon, which was organized based on the common values and aspirations, that ultimately led to the establishment of a formalized EU-India Strategic Partnership on 11th October 2004 at the Hague.
This relationship was further strengthened by the forward looking Joint Action Plan (JAP) at the sixth India-EU summit held in New Delhi in 2005. The primary objective of the JAP was to improve EU-India relations in the context of a strategic partnership. JAP also proposed that there is a need to cooperate on sustainable development, protecting the environment, mitigating climate change and combating poverty.
EU-India cooperation needs to be strengthened by combating terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and protecting human rights.
There is enormous potential for EU-India collaboration in science and technology. Strategic dialogues have developed in the areas like transport sector, biotechnology, space partnership.
For continuing EU-India strategic partnership there are number of challenges that both EU and India needs to overcome. These are a) Cooperation for bringing effective multilateralism,(b) Cooperation for ensuring energy security and climate change and (c) Cooperate for sharing security concerns and issues(d) Strengthen economic interactions.
a) Effective Multilateralism
EU and India already have a strong shared approach on global trade issues. India and the EU have reaffirmed their commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system. In the Doha multilateral trade negotiations both India and EU stressed to share trade policy priority. This was undoubtedly been a very important step in the development of the EU-India Strategic partnership.
b) Energy Security and Climate Change
EU and India recognise their global responsibility and this was visible when they adopted a comprehensive climate change and energy package in March 2008. Its aim was a comprehensive overhaul of the energy policy with a view to tackle climate change. Together the EU and India have developed significant bilateral cooperation in these areas and would like to go further, through the India-EU initiative on clean energy development for tackling climate change.
c) Security Issues and Concerns
India has a significant expertise in conflict prevention. In this area, EU can explore means of formalising regular cooperation with India. Both EU and India plans to intensify the counter-terrorism cooperation in the framework of the United Nations. EU and India continue to work actively towards a swift finalisation of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
d) Strengthen Economic Interactions
The EU is India’s largest trading partner and one of the main sources of foreign inward investment, but India is EU’s 14th trading partner. Therefore, there is need for India to further open up its market to realise the potential of its market. India needs to address matters such as customs tariffs and many non-tariff trade barriers. The prospects for cooperation are indeed bright for both EU and India in future for working together to create a better world.
Both EU and India can help each other in various ways like EU can help India to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The dynamics of this affiliation and the prospects for the future cooperation with a focus on peacekeeping and peace building will go a long way to formulate a strong strategic partnership.