NEW DELHI: European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday prolonged her heat needs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his seventy fifth birthday over a telephone name on a day the European Fee and the Excessive Consultant additionally adopted a Joint Communication outlining a ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ aimed to deepen, broaden, and higher coordinate bilateral cooperation.
In response, PM Modi thanked Leyen for her heat needs and expressed India’s readiness to take its relationship with European Union to subsequent degree. PM Modi welcomed the adoption of the brand new Strategic EU-India Agenda by the EU on Wednesday. The 2 leaders expressed their dedication for concluding the India-EU Free Commerce Settlement (FTA) negotiations earlier than the tip of the yr.
“At all times a pleasure to talk to President Ursula von der Leyen. Thanks on your heat birthday greetings. Delighted to know in regards to the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ adopted immediately. India is able to take the India-EU relationship to the subsequent degree. It’s our shared dedication, shared purpose, and shared duty. We stay dedicated to an early and peaceable decision of the Ukraine battle,” PM Modi posted on X.
Throughout the phone-call, PM Modi and Ursula von der Leyen exchanged views on regional and international problems with mutual curiosity. “India stays dedicated for an early and peaceable decision of the battle in Ukraine. PM Modi reiterated his invitation for the subsequent India-EU Summit to be held in India subsequent yr,” learn a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Workplace (PMO).
Ursula von der Leyen introduced the initiative within the 2024-2029 Political Pointers. She acknowledged that EU with its new technique is taking its relationship with India to the subsequent degree 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 concentrate on dependable companions and double down on partnerships rooted in shared pursuits and guided by frequent values. With our new EU–India technique, we’re taking our relationship to the subsequent degree. Advancing commerce, funding and expertise mobility. Strengthening our joint financial safety. Advancing the clear transition and driving innovation collectively,” Leyen acknowledged.
“Deepening our industrial cooperation in defence. Europe is already India’s largest buying and selling associate and we’re dedicated to finalising our Free Commerce Settlement by the tip of the yr. 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 present ties whereas addressing areas that current potential for elevated engagement. Amid shifting geopolitical realities, nearer EU–India relations are more and more very important for strengthening financial development and safety, and diversifying provide chains in response to immediately’s unsure international order, an EU assertion detailed.
“The Joint Communication takes ahead the proposed EU-India Safety and Defence Partnership. It will 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 categorized info change will help nearer safety and defence cooperation. Nearer cooperation on the Indo-Pacific, addressing hybrid threats, area safety, and intensifying engagement on Russia’s battle 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 International 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 expertise mobility with the pilot European Authorized Gateway Workplace to facilitate labour mobility. It requires creating a complete mobility cooperation framework overlaying examine, work, and analysis.
“The Joint Communication identifies vital untapped potential in commerce and funding, outlining methods to strengthen business ties, significantly finalising the continued negotiations on a Free Commerce Settlement (FTA). It proposes reinforcing provide chains whereas selling crucial 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 acknowledged.
“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 bold initiatives for decarbonisation and the clear transition, comparable 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.