WRITTEN QUESTION E-1022/01

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Relations between India and Pakistan

The perverse decisions taken recently by the Afghan government have highlighted the permanently strained relations between India and Pakistan over the issue of Kashmir. Since border disputes between the two countries have remained unresolved for a number of decades and the neighbouring countries China and Afghanistan have been involved either directly or indirectly, the conflict between India and Pakistan has all the makings of a major international flashpoint.

As the European Union is seeking to play a more important role on the international political scene and the two countries concerned are major trading partners, will the Commission say:

1. What is the state today of EU relations with India and Pakistan, respectively?

2. What agreements have been concluded between the European Union and India and Pakistan, respectively?

3. Has it ever raised the problem of Kashmir in its occasional discussions with these two countries?

4. Has it so far taken any initiatives to find a solution to the problem of Kashmir and, if not, does it intend to do so?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2001)

The Union has extensive relations with India. These were enhanced when both sides met for the first Summit in Lisbon in June 2000. A Joint Summit Declaration set out an ambitious Agenda for Action. Building on this momentum, regular fruitful and constructive meetings take place at all levels, from expert working groups to meetings of Foreign Ministers, dealing with the entire range of co-operation, be it in the fields of trade, commerce and development, or political dialogue, and implementing the Agenda for Action. The Member of the Commission responsible for External relations's visit to India in January 2001 further emphasised the importance the Commission places in an enhanced partnership with India, and other Commission colleagues have visited subsequently. A further summit will take place in November 2000 in New Delhi.

The Community-India co-operation Agreement entered into force in 1994. It extends the partnership beyond trade and economic co-operation and underlines both sides joint commitment to respect for human rights, democratisation and the rule of law. The institutional basis for the political dialogue is a Joint Political Statement signed simultaneously with the Co-operation Agreement. It fixed annual ministerial meetings, and opened the door to a broad political dialogue.

Union relations with Pakistan have been restricted since the military take-over in Pakistan on 12 October 1999. This caused the Union to put on hold plans to sign a new Co-operation Agreement with Pakistan. The annual EU-Pakistan political dialogue was initially cancelled, but has in the meantime been re-launched on an ad-hoc basis. However, the Union wishes to see tangible progress towards restoration of representative democracy in Pakistan based on a clear and credible timetable and our relationship will continue to reflect progress on that front.

The Union regularly raises the subject of Kashmir in its contacts with the two countries.

The Union Heads of Delegation in New Delhi regularly visit Kashmir under an extended Troika format to assess the situation.

The Union encourages a peaceful solution of the Kashmir conflict, and has recently issued two declarations (8 and 28 December 2000) supporting first the Indian Ramadan cease-fire and then its extension, as well as the Pakistani response.

However, the Commission believes that Union involvement in the resolution of the problem would only be appropriate and possible if both India and Pakistan requested it. This is not currently the case and the Union has no plans at present for an initiative in this area.