20 octobre 2021 Pierre Perrin-Monlouis
The EU and India will hold their 6th Summit Meeting on 7 September 2005 in New Delhi. The Summit is expected to endorse an ambitious and results-oriented Action Plan as well as a Political Declaration signalling the commitment of the EU and India to enhanced engagement on all issues of mutual concern.
President Barroso welcomes the Summit: “The European Union and India know and show that they matter to each other more than ever before. With our ambitious Action Plan we will be able to jointly work against terrorism and build up a security dialogue. We will be able to meet common environmental challenges and strengthen our two-way trade and investment. Based on our joint values, on our shared commitment to freedom and democracy, we will forge an ever closer relationship and make the strategic partnership a huge success.
The decision to launch an EU-India Strategic Partnership in 2004 was the culmination of an important up-swing in relations starting with the first Summit held in Lisbon in June 2000. The Commission Communication “An EU-India Strategic Partnership” acknowledged India’s potential to be one of the world’s most important international actors and India entered the ‘club’ of the EU’s carefully selected strategic partners, along with the US, China, Canada and Russia.
The adoption of an Action Plan today outlining concrete cooperation initiatives on issues of mutual concern now finalises this successful process.
The Action Plan
The political chapter of the Action Plan outlines where the EU and India want to intensify their political dialogue and join forces on the international stage to address global challenges systematically. It emphasises the constructive dialogue on human rights and cooperation with the UN and establishes a dedicated dialogue on migration and consular issues.
The trade and investment chapter aims to promote two-way trade flows and investment. The Summit will entrust a High Level Trade Group with delivering recommendations in view of a possible comprehensive trade and investment agreement. Both sides will work towards enhanced cooperation on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and a successful Hong Kong WTO Ministerial.
The economic policy chapter aims to put the EU and its economic operators at the core of India’s ongoing reform process and to promote good governance. It proposes enhanced economic cooperation through the establishment of new dialogues and working groups (e.g. biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, finance, health, social affairs, agriculture) and aims to promote space co-operation and India’s participation in Galileo and ITER.
The cultural and academic chapter, which builds upon the 2004 EU-India Cultural Declaration foresees the establishment of EU Studies Centres in India and vice-versa, India’s increased participation in the Erasmus Mundus student exchange programme as well as strengthened exchanges between civil society organisations and think tanks.
For further information:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm
