Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-27-Speech-3-094"
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"en.20041027.7.3-094"2
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".
Mr President, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to talk to you about EU-India relations. India is a partner that deserves special attention, and this Commission has made a point of bringing the relationship with India to new heights during its mandate. Our objective has been a more comprehensive and forward-looking European policy towards India, and this is taking shape.
We want to foster progress on trade and investment. This includes strengthening the multilateral trading system from which we have both benefited. The recent agreement on a South Asia Free Trade Agreement takes explicit inspiration from the EU process. We stand ready to offer assistance based on our experience.
Mutual understanding is an area that has been neglected for too long. Educational exchanges will receive a boost through a scholarship programme in the framework of Erasmus Mundus. When we hold the next summit in The Hague in early November, we will adopt a declaration on cultural cooperation, hoping to make this area a priority for our future cooperation.
The Council has produced conclusions endorsing the main thrust of the communication, and India has responded with a very positive strategy paper. Together with the excellent recommendations of Parliament, all elements are in place for the fifth summit to take the necessary decision to open a new era in our relations and to upgrade the relationship with India to a strategic partnership. Political leaders are expected to task officials to prepare a detailed action plan and a new political statement for the sixth summit in 2005.
Implementation can only work with sustained and committed support from all actors, including the European Parliament.
Looking at the state of our relations today, it is clear that they have come a long way since our first summit in Lisbon in June 2000. In particular, we have deepened and strengthened our dialogue in all areas. At last year's EU-India summit it was agreed that we should seize the opportunity to develop our friendship into a strategic partnership.
As global actors with strong democracies and common values and with many years of growing trade and political links, there is much to build on. India has a formidable economic potential, as it looks set to emulate China’s economic growth. It plays an increasingly assertive role on the international stage. It is engaged in a process of conciliation with Pakistan. For these and many more reasons, the European Union simply cannot afford to miss out on opportunities for cooperation.
The Commission has set out proposals for doing just that. The Communication on an EU-India Strategic Partnership identifies the challenges, opportunities and expectations for strengthening our international, economic and development cooperation with India.
Firstly, it is important to recognise that our relationship is no longer just about trade. We are both more active on issues such as promoting peace, security and democracy in the world, where we hold common views. The European Union and India could work more effectively together to support multilateralism and the role of the United Nations. We could strengthen our cooperation in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction, and in addressing global concerns such as non-proliferation and terrorism. Certainly, the European Union and India should enhance their dialogue on human rights and democracy, bilaterally and internationally.
The European Union and India could also work more closely on promoting regional peace, prosperity and stability. In areas where the European Union is involved in the peace process and reconstruction, such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, dialogue and cooperation with India could be stepped up.
The role of the European Parliament is crucial. We encourage contacts with the Indian Lower House and suggest, in particular, regular meetings between delegations from both sides. The planned visit of Members of the European Parliament to India early next month is excellent news.
India could become a major economic partner, and much remains to be done to tap the full potential of the European Union and India’s trade and investment relationship. India has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies for over a decade. Its growing prosperity is attracting increased attention from European business. India should assure its climb to economic prosperity by continued economic reforms, including greater market access and better regulation.
We should therefore initiate a policy dialogue in important areas of economic management, such as industrial policy, the environment or competition. We intend to promote strategic dialogues – ranging from regulatory dialogue to cooperation in research – in sectors such as information technology, transport, energy, biotechnology or space science."@en1
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