EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/166

(2004/C 88 E/0174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0012/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(16 January 2004)

Subject: EU-India Summit — closer relations

The Fourth EU-India Summit, held in New Delhi on 29 November 2003, examined the development of bilateral relations and discussed ways and means of strengthening them.

According to the Commission's strategy paper on India of 10 September 2002 one of the priorities is ‘promoting cultural understanding’ (page 23), which will require cultural interaction on both sides and be a reason for reactivating the EU-India Cross Cultural Programme.

In view of the subcontinent's ethnic, social and cultural diversity, special attention should be devoted to the variety of cultural links between its peoples and various EU Member States, which in themselves enhance the mutual understanding which the Union wants to encourage, since they can help to create a closer social, technical and economic relationship and cooperation.

We should bear in mind the special links between Portugal and the territories of Goa, Damão, Diu, Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli, the outcome of more than 450 years of history, which in the interests of the desired closer links between the European Union and India ought to be strengthened.

Can the Commission therefore say:

— what steps it has taken or intends to take to encourage the study of Portuguese, the third European world language, in that part of the world;

— what measures it intends to propose to the Indian authorities with a view to strengthening and improving a relationship which is long-established but restricted by distance;

— in what ways it will try to make the Indian authorities aware of the issue and persuade them to promote the strengthening of the region's cultural and historical ties with the Union;

— whether it will agree to grant new support for cultural projects devised by the governments of the Member States, universities, NGOs, churches, etc., dealing specifically with enhancing, publicising, restoring, rebuilding and preserving the shared cultural and historical heritage, and seek Indian government support for such projects?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2004)

The fourth EU-India Summit held in Delhi on 29 November 2003 was an important event in enhancing the relationship between both sides. The relationship has received a significant boost since the first Summit held in Lisbon in June 2000 under the Portuguese Presidency.

Dialogue and cooperation have continued to deepen in the entire range of political, economic, development and civil society matters.

In this context, the cultural dimension has received increased attention, and the Commission, already active, is looking at ways and means to further strengthen this important element of EU-India relations.

The Economic Cross-Cultural Programme to which the Honourable Member refers was re-launched through a call for proposals in July 2003 in the fields of media and communication, university and studies and entrepreneurial networking. This resulted in the selection of 26 projects which are in the process of being signed.

An EU-India Scholarship programme is currently being designed. It will aim to attract Indian post-graduate level students to European — including possibly Portuguese — universities, as a means of deepening EU-India ties and understanding.

The EU-India Small Projects facility also offers scope for the funding of cultural activities. One of the nine projects being financed from the last call for proposals aims to increase cultural interchange through the translation of European and Indian literature.

The Commission was actively involved in the organisation of a dense cultural week around the Delhi Summit: A large number of European cultural activities organised by the Member States attracted a lot of attention among the Indian public.

The Commission fully agrees with the Honourable Member that cultural exchanges are a crucial element of EU-India relations. Hence, in its current effort to elaborate a strategic partnership with India, due account will be taken of the importance of cultural links, both around Summit meetings and in furthering the day-to-day relationship.