Brussels, 17/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU high representative for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, would like greater cooperation with India, particularly in the security field.
Ashton said that the relationship between India and the EU was on track but that they needed to do more. Her comments were made at the end of her visit to Bangalore on 16-17 January. During her visit, she jointly presided, together with the Indian foreign minister, S.M. Krishna, over a preparatory meeting on Monday for the 12th annual EU-India annual summit on 10 February in New Delhi. On Tuesday she met the Indian defence minister, A.K. Antony.
Ashton is expecting to make progress in this field over the next few weeks and during the 12th annual EU-India summit on 10 February in New Delhi. Europeans and Indians are also expected to make progress in the area of free trade. The EU high representative expects a bilateral agreement to be made in this field, which will provide an opportunity for 1.7 billion (Europeans and Indians) and a factor for growth for the two partners. The summit is also expected to officialise extended cooperation in the energy field and another declaration on this chapter is due to be adopted by European and Indian leaders. Finally, the summit will also validate the work undertaken this week by Ashton and her hosts to further extend co-operation and develop “regional solutions” to security challenges facing India, such as the acts of piracy off the Somali coast, cyber security and counterterrorism, in addition to relations with its neighbour, Pakistan. In this connection, Ashton and Antony agreed on a five-year bilateral commitment to guarantee regional security. (EH/transl.fl)