United States President Donald Trump has been urging European international locations to impose sanctions on India to cease New Delhi’s Russian oil buy. Notably, Trump has already imposed 50% tariffs on India and has been pushing different international locations to do the identical. Nonetheless, the European Fee seems to have delivered a contemporary snub to the US President over the difficulty. In distinction to what Trump desires, the European Fee and the Excessive Consultant on Wednesday adopted a Joint Communication outlining a ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’, aimed to deepen, broaden, and higher coordinate bilateral cooperation, improve prosperity and safety for 2 sides with the intention to sort out main international challenges.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the initiative within the 2024-2029 Political Tips. She said that EU with its new technique, is taking its relationship with India to the following stage by advancing commerce, funding and expertise mobility whereas deepening industrial cooperation within the defence sector on the similar time. “Now could be the time to deal with dependable companions and double down on partnerships rooted in shared pursuits and guided by widespread values. With our new EU–India technique, we’re taking our relationship to the following stage. Advancing commerce, funding and expertise mobility. Strengthening our joint financial safety. Advancing the clear transition and driving innovation collectively,” Leyen said.
“Deepening our industrial cooperation in defence. Europe is already India’s greatest buying and selling associate and we’re dedicated to finalising our Free Commerce Settlement by the top of the 12 months. Europe is open for enterprise. And we’re able to spend money on our shared future with India,” she added. The Joint Communication outlines the EU’s strategic imaginative and prescient for enhancing cooperation with India and identifies 5 areas of shared curiosity and complementary strengths, constructing on current ties whereas addressing areas that current potential for elevated engagement. Amid shifting geopolitical realities, nearer EU–India relations are more and more important for strengthening financial progress and safety, and diversifying provide chains in response to as we speak’s unsure international order, an EU assertion detailed.
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“The Joint Communication takes ahead the proposed EU-India Safety and Defence Partnership. This may improve strategic consultations and joint initiatives, together with on disaster administration, maritime safety, cyber defence, and counterterrorism, and foster defence industrial cooperation, specializing in boosting manufacturing and technological capabilities, securing provide chains, and driving innovation,” it talked about.
“Launching negotiations for a Safety of Info Settlement to facilitate categorised info alternate will help nearer safety and defence cooperation. Nearer cooperation on the Indo-Pacific, addressing hybrid threats, area safety, and intensifying engagement on Russia’s conflict in opposition to Ukraine, shadow fleets, and sanctions are different areas of focus,” the assertion added.
The Joint Communication additionally stresses on strengthening regional connectivity initiatives, just like the India-Center East-Europe Financial Hall (IMEC) and advances World Gateway and EU-India trilateral cooperation, with and in third international locations. It prioritises growing interplay and bolstering coordination between India and the EU in any respect ranges, together with abilities mobility with the pilot European Authorized Gateway Workplace to facilitate labour mobility. It requires creating a complete mobility cooperation framework masking research, work, and analysis.
“The Joint Communication identifies important untapped potential in commerce and funding, outlining methods to strengthen industrial ties, notably finalising the continuing negotiations on a Free Commerce Settlement (FTA). It proposes reinforcing provide chains whereas selling important rising applied sciences and engagement on digital points, with explicit consideration to strengthening financial safety throughout the Commerce and Know-how Council (TTC),” the EU said.
“This new technique additionally proposes deepening tech cooperation, together with a possible EU-India Startup partnership, and invitations India to affiliate with Horizon Europe programme. It suggests formidable initiatives for decarbonisation and the clear transition, corresponding to intensifying cooperation on renewables, creating inexperienced hydrogen capabilities and increasing inexperienced finance. Furthermore, it highlights alternatives to collectively strengthen meals safety, and well being, local weather and catastrophe resilience,” it added.
Excessive Consultant for EU’s Overseas Affairs and Safety Coverage, Kaja Kallas, known as India as “one of many necessary gamers on the earth and a pure associate for the European Union.” She said, “India is without doubt one of the most necessary gamers on the earth as we speak and a pure associate for the European Union. There are lots of areas the place our pursuits, strengths and political will align. Boosting our collaboration – which we’re proposing as we speak – will profit the safety and prosperity of residents and companies on either side. There are areas the place we disagree. Finally, our partnership is about defending a rules-based worldwide order. Our negotiations will deal with these challenges.” (With IANS inputs)