India, EU discuss possibilities of collaboration in R&D, tech to contain COVID-19

NEW DELHI: India and the European Union have discussed possibilities of collaboration in fields of technology, Research & Development and diagnostics to contain and combat spread of Covid-19.
This was discussed when Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had a telephonic conversation with the Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Helga M. Schmid on Friday.

The two senior officials exchanged notes on the situation and respective efforts to deal with the Covid pandemic in the EU and India as well as coordination in the framework of G20 and SAARC and other groupings.

The Foreign Secretary expressed his deep sympathies on the losses to Covid in the EU region. EU has been one of the hardest hit regions with the death toll due to the virus.

The Secretary General, EEAS appreciated the Indian PM's initiatives in the G20 & in SAARC in response to Covid. She thanked him for all the support extended by India for the return of the nationals of EU countries and the Foreign Secretary reassured her of India’s continued support in facilitating the return of EU nationals.

Recognizing the valued strategic partnership between India and the EU, the two sides agreed to maintain contacts towards consultation and cooperation at the bilateral level as well as in the international context. The two officials also discussed situation in Iran and Afghanistan.

Schmid, an influential bureaucrat has worked in various positions within the German government since 1988. Following the founding of the European External Action Service, Schmid became deputy secretary-general for political affairs in 2010. In this capacity, she was involved in negotiations for the Nuclear program of Iran.

In the negotiations for the EU-3 nuclear agreement with Iran Schmid was the lead author of the 100-page treaty which was successfully concluded in 2015.