India, EU open new chapter in strategic partnership strengthening rules-based order

India and the European Union on Wednesday opened a new chapter in their strategic partnership by deciding to expand their maritime security ties with the PM in a veiled message for China noting that “several types of pressures are being exerted on rules-based international order.”
“In a situation like this India-EU partnership, can play an important role in economic rebuilding, a human centric and also humanity-centric globalization,” said PM Narendra Modi as he urged all democratic countries to join hands to deal with new economic challenges in the post-Covid world in the backdrop of China’s belligerent foreign policy.

Addressing the India-EU Summit 2020, through video conference, the Prime Minister said that he wants the India-EU relationship to strengthen further and is working towards this. "For the same, we must work on a long-term strategic perspective," he said.

"We must also build an action-oriented agenda which can be implemented. India and EU are natural partners. Our partnership is useful for peace in the world."

Modi informed the EU leadership about the latest development regarding this incident with China. The EU supported all the efforts to maintain a channel of dialogue and find peace full solution.

Pointing out that both India and the EU share universal values like democracy, pluralism, inclusiveness, respect for international institutions, multilateralism, freedom and transparency, PM Modi made a strong pitch for even stronger relations between EU and India, particularly in the post-Covid era. He also invited European investments for the further development of environment friendly technologies in India.

The two sides decided to work towards balanced, ambitious and mutually-beneficial trade and investment agreements. It was decided to establish a High-Level Dialogue at ministerial level to provide political guidance to the bilateral trade and investment relation and continue the dialogue on a regular basis.

The two sides decided to establish a maritime security dialogue replacing the counter-piracy dialogue and explore opportunities for further maritime cooperation. They also decided to deepen cooperation between the Indian Navy and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA.

The two sides also decided to establish regular security consultations, focusing on exchange on strategic priorities, security issues, crisis management and peacekeeping. It was also decided to strengthen military-to-military relations and exchanges.

The leaders decided to strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership, based on shared principles and values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, and respect for human rights, aiming at delivering concrete benefits for the people in India and the EU.

The leaders agreed to jointly promote a transparent, viable, inclusive, sustainable, comprehensive, and rules-based approach to connectivity to ensure that projects are environmentally, socially and fiscally sustainable and provide a level playing field for businesses in the backdrop of BRI promoted by China.

The two leaders agreed to explore concrete initiatives, including a possible future comprehensive connectivity partnership, to improve connectivity between India and the EU and seek synergies between their cooperation on connectivity with third countries including in the Indo-Pacific region.

They welcomed the ongoing activity in India of the European Investment Bank and the upcoming planned investments of €550 million in the Pune and Bhopal Metro Rail Projects. India and the EU recognize the key role of the private sector and the importance of incentivising sustainable private financing.

In his remarks at the Summit, EU President Charles Michel stated, “We have just signed the Euratom-India Agreement that boosts cooperation on research and development for peaceful nuclear energy. We welcome India’s proposal to build a connectivity partnership that is open, sustainable and rules-based.”

Sources told ET that the EU stressed on partnership based on shared values and pressed for enhanced cooperation in trade and investments; digital cooperation; climate change; promotion of multilateralism (during India’s membership of UNSC and Chairmanship of G20); maritime and naval coop.
The EU suggested to enhance climate change cooperation including technologies and investment like in offshore wind power

“In today's complex world, they, as the world's two largest democracies, affirmed their determination to promote effective multilateralism and a rules-based multilateral order with the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. They will bolster their cooperation in international fora to reinforce international security, strengthen preparedness and response for global health emergencies, enhance global economic stability and inclusive growth, implement the Sustainable Development Goals and protect the climate and the environment. In this context, the EU is looking forward to India’s G20 Presidency in 2022 and its membership in the UN Security Council in 2021-2022,” according to the joint statement released at the end of Summit.

India and the EU reiterated their commitment to human rights, including gender equality and women empowerment in all spheres of life, and the importance they attach to their cooperation. In this regard, they looked forward to the next session as soon as possible of their dialogue to be held in New Delhi and supported enhancing interaction in international fora, in particular the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

Five documents were concluded during the virtual summit:

i) The Joint Political Statement summarizes the deliberations and convergences between the two sides on various dimensions of bilateral cooperation, global issues of common interest and joint coronavirus response.

ii) The India-EU Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2025 summarizes the framework of our dialogue and cooperation covering wide ranging areas including foreign and security policy, trade & investment, modernization, sustainable development, research and innovation, education and exchange of scholars, migration and mobility, and global governance.

iii) The India-European Atomic Energy Community Agreement on research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy will enable collaboration between the Department of Atomic Energy and EURATOM on issues such as civil applications of atomic energy in areas such as (agriculture, healthcare, industry), radioactive waste management, fusion, nuclear safety & security.

iv) Renewal of Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement for another 5 years will enable continuation of scientific projects and research exchanges in areas such as biotechnology, clean energy, e-mobility, energy efficiency, marine sciences, etc.

v) Joint Declaration on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy will enable dialogue and cooperation in areas such as policy & regulations, exchange of best practices and capacities, and technical exchanges in areas such as energy efficiency, waste management, recycling, circular business models in areas such as mobility, ICT, mobility, construction, food and textiles sector.