Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-27-Speech-3-093"
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"en.20041027.7.3-093"2
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".
Mr President, the first summit between the EU and India took place in Lisbon in 2000. Since then, our relationship has undergone a fast and dynamic development. Our cooperation covers a wide range of subjects, from economic to cultural, and we address local, regional and global issues. The framework of our strategic partnership, set up in 2000, now really has flesh on the bones. The Netherlands presidency is very much looking forward to hosting the forthcoming summit in The Hague on 8 November. This will give a further boost to our relations. What do we want to get out of this summit?
Indian involvement is also needed when it comes to the situation in Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma, issues that we will also discuss at the summit. The EU is ready to express its commitment to the reconstruction and stabilisation of Afghanistan in partnership with the Afghan Government and is counting on India to do the same. Peace and stability is also needed in Nepal and Sri Lanka. We will encourage the Indians to use their influence to contribute to this goal.
Economics form an important part of EU-India relations. Therefore, we also want to give some signals in this field. We want to intensify bilateral cooperation in order to facilitate and expand trade and investment flows. The European Union is India’s first partner in terms of trade and actual investment inflows and is in the front rank of its partners in the field of economic cooperation. We want to maintain that. The summit will also provide an opportunity to express our commitment to the multilateral trading system and the desire to make progress in the Doha Development Round. We also want India to participate in Galileo, our global satellite navigation system, and we want to discuss the negotiations on a maritime agreement.
Although the first summit took place only four years ago, the European and Indian cultures go back thousands of years. They first came into contact at the time of Alexander the Great. It is therefore only natural to stress the cultural dimension of our relationship by the signing of a common declaration on cultural relations.
I would like to conclude by saying that EU-India relations are improving all the time. The relationship covers many areas and it is bound to succeed. The Summit on 8 November will prove this.
The first thing we should do is to set a deadline for the completion of a comprehensive EU-India Action Plan for a Strategic Partnership. This action plan should be approved at the next Summit in 2005. This will reflect the ambition to further develop EU-India relations in several key areas, such as cooperation in the UN and other multilateral fora; conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction; cooperation on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; the fight against terrorism and organised crime; dialogue on democracy and human rights and EU support for India’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Commission’s communication, which was published last June, and the Indian reaction to it form the basis for this Action Plan.
There are a number of global challenges that we should address at the summit. Both the EU and India are committed to strengthening the role of the UN. We should therefore emphasise that an effective multilateral system based on the principles of international law, with a strong United Nations at its centre, is essential for achieving peace and international stability. In addition to 'old' challenges, we also have to address new ones, such as the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS and the fight against terrorism.
On the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we should increase our cooperation, particularly with a view to reinforcing the consistency and effectiveness of export control measures for dual-use goods. The EU wants to strengthen the political dialogue with India in this field and on issues relating to weapons of mass destruction. We hope India will react positively.
The European Union is very concerned about the threat posed by the spread of HIV/AIDS in India. The International Conference on Population and Development formulated a clear agenda on the fight against AIDS, and in 2001 the UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration of Commitment on AIDS. We want to reiterate the importance of implementing the agenda and declaration.
On terrorism, we now have a clear resolution from the UN Security Council. The EU will confirm to the Indians our commitment to the fight against terrorism. We will also inform them of the concrete EU action to combat terrorism.
At the summit, we will also be discussing international and regional developments. I will focus on the latter. The EU has an interest in a stable, peaceful and prosperous South Asia. Looking to this region, we are encouraged by the developments in SAARC and the ongoing and genuine efforts to take forward the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan. At various meetings at both political and official level the EU has expressed its full support and its satisfaction with the steps taken by both countries.
At the summit, the EU will encourage India to continue to make progress in agreeing on substantive confidence-building measures
through improvements in transport, trade and economic links and more personal contact across the Line of Control. But we cannot expect rapid progress: a cautious, gradual approach is needed. We are encouraged by what we see as shifting parameters in India-Pakistan relations during the last months. The EU hopes that both sides will continue to engage fully in this process, for instance through consolidation of the Line of Control ceasefire.
We also welcome the agreement of both sides to explore possible options for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue as part of the wider process of the composite dialogue between both countries. This is critical to the future of the process. Of course, Pakistan must continue to make every effort to curb terrorist infiltration across the Line of Control and cross-border terrorism. But at the same time India needs to take further action to reduce human rights violations. Improved social and economic quality of life in Jammu and Kashmir is important in sustaining peace. India should continue to take into account the views of local leaders, representing a broad spectrum of Kashmiri stakeholders."@en1
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