EU shapes its ambitious strategy on India - Europa EU [PDF]

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Brussels, 20 November 2018
European Commission - Press release

Excerpt:

The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy today adopted a Joint Communication that sets out the EU's vision for a strategy to strengthen cooperation and the partnership with India.

This Joint Communication replaces the last Commission Communication on India of 2004, recognising that India has emerged as the fastest-growing large economy and has acquired an important geopolitical role. The Communication aims to strengthen the EU-India Strategic Partnership by focusing on sustainable modernisation and on common responses to global and regional issues. It also seeks to reinforce the effectiveness of the EU's external action and is coherent with the implementation of the Global Strategy.

The Joint Communication on elements for an EU strategy on India is available online. ...

The EU will seek more coordination between its initiatives and those of its Member States towards India. The EU and its Member States will work together to provide a better understanding of the EU in India.

They will also work to make the EU's public diplomacy [JB emphasis] more effective.

The EU will promote a strategic use of its funding instruments. Programmes for Indian diplomats and experts' exchanges and dialogues will be multiplied in order to foster mutual understanding.

Finally, the Joint Communication proposes that the EU considers the possibility to negotiate with India a Strategic Partnership Agreement, in order to update the 1994 EU-India Cooperation Agreement. ...

Background information

The Joint Communication adopted today by the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy provides the elements for an EU strategy on India aiming at building a partnership for sustainable modernisation and the rules-based global order.

The proposals made in the Joint Communication will now be discussed in the European Parliament and the Council.