Debate: EU-India relations
Date: TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Janez Lenarčič
Language: EN

The European Union wants to continue deepening its strategic partnership with India. India is now the most populated country in the world and has significant economic potential. India’s geopolitical positioning and domestic policy choices, particularly on climate and environmental issues, have implications for the Indo-Pacific region, and indeed for the rest of the world. It is in the context of India’s steady rise and regional and global power dynamics that we should assess the strategic partnership between the EU and India.  Broadly speaking, EU relations with India are expanding and enjoying positive momentum. As the rapporteur points out, our strategic partnership with India is guided by a bilateral political framework – the Roadmap to 2025 – which guides joint action in many policy areas to further strengthen our relationship. The implementation of the Roadmap is continuously monitored and well advanced. The EU and India have a common interest in each other’s security, prosperity and sustainable development, and together can contribute to a safer, cleaner and more stable world.  Last year, we witnessed the magnitude and success of India’s G20 presidency, and we recognise India’s efforts to put the priorities and concerns of developing countries high on the agenda.  Let me continue by highlighting some recent achievements of our deepening partnership. The relaunch of negotiations for an EU free trade agreement with India was a momentous development, back in 2022. There have now been six rounds of talks, with both sides prioritising a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement as the outcome. The EU and India also established a ministerial-level Trade and Technology Council, TTC, in May 2023, in order to give high-level political steering to our cooperation in strategic issues at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security. We expect to hold the next meeting soon.  In 2021, the EU and India adopted a connectivity partnership and together with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy and the European Investment Bank, we are making progress in key sectors such as energy, urbanisation, digitalisation and transport. In addition, the EU is strengthening its cooperation with India on security and defence with regular thematic dialogues, joint naval exercises and closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.  Honourable Members, while our relations with India are experiencing an overall positive trajectory, we are conscious of the reports about the deteriorating human rights situation and shrinking civil society space, which are addressed at length in your report. I would like to reassure you that human rights are indispensable elements in EU foreign policy towards all our partners, India being no exception. In this context, let me highlight that the EU is the only external partner with whom India has a dedicated human rights dialogue. We attach great importance to this dialogue and the ability to have genuine discussions with India as strategic partners, even on sensitive issues like this one.  In conclusion, with the world facing major geopolitical challenges, India remains a crucial strategic partner for the EU. Our ability to strategically navigate the 21st century and work together on key priorities will bring great benefits to both Europe and India, and to the rest of the world.