On Thursday, 29 April, the European Parliament recommended that the EU continue to improve and deepen relations with India, a strategic partner.
The report on EU-India relations by Alviina Alametsä (Greens/EFA, Finland) was adopted by 594 votes in favour, 34 against, and 63 abstentions before the EU-India summit that is scheduled to be held on 8 May. In this report, MEPs also call for concrete progress to be made on priority issues for the strategic partnership, notably resilient global health; climate change and green growth; digitalisation and new technologies; connectivity; trade and investment; foreign, security and defence policy; and human rights.
Reiterating that trade between the EU and India has increased by more than 70% between 2009 and 2019, MEPs believe that it is in both parties’ interest to strengthen their economic ties. In their opinion, the 8 May summit should be an opportunity to openly discuss value-based cooperation at the highest level in matters of trade and investment. The EU is ready “to consider launching negotiations on a stand-alone investment protection agreement, which would increase legal certainty for investors on both sides and further strengthen bilateral trade relations”, explain MEPs.
The European Parliament also wants greater synergy in foreign and security policy. In its view, it is especially necessary to ensure closer thematic coordination of international security policies and to take action in areas such as nuclear security, regional conflict prevention and peacebuilding, maritime safety, the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, and disinformation campaigns as well as cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and outer space.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/330gXS0 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)