Following the presentation by the European Commission of its communication on the new EU-India Strategic Agenda (see EUROPE 13711/2), most of the European Parliament’s political groups called for closer ties with New Delhi at a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday 7 October, at a time when the India is drawing closer to other powers on the international stage.
Nevertheless, a number of MEPs highlighted certain human rights shortcomings and regretted India’s trade links with Russia.
For a free trade agreement. For the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, German), India represents a kind of “decisive strategic test” for the European Union. “It does not correspond perfectly to our criteria as a partner sharing the same values”, he acknowledged, pointing out that India pursues “à la carte” cooperation guided by its own national interests. However, he said that this could be an opportunity for the EU, and therefore urged it to act “pragmatically” with India.
In his view, a free trade agreement with New Delhi would open the door to numerous trade and technological opportunities.
This view is shared by Svenja Hahn (Renew Europe, German), who believes that more partnerships with India are a step forward for Europe’s future.
The AFET Committee’s permanent rapporteur for India, Vladimir Prebilič (Greens/EFA, Slovenian), also called for negotiations on this agreement with India to be concluded by the end of the year.
Concerns about links with Russia. For his part, Yannis Maniatis (S&D, Greek) welcomed the new EU-India Strategic Agenda, saying that following the recent tariffs imposed by the United States, “we have seen a new rapprochement between India and China which has surprised many of us”.
However, he said he hoped that an agreement with New Delhi would include issues relating to the environment, sustainability and human rights. He also pointed out that India remained one of Russia’s most important trading partners.
This was also emphasised by Małgorzata Gosiewska (ECR, Polish), recalling that in 2022 India became one of the main beneficiaries of Russian oil enabling the financing of Russian aggression against Ukraine. “It is only President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Indian products that has influenced the direction of oil purchases”, she said.
The European Commission wants to reassure. At the end of the debate, the Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Hadja Lahbib, recalled that the European Commission had communicated its concerns about India’s participation in military exercises with Russia and had received assurances from the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, that India was opposed to the war of aggression in Ukraine.
This did not stop Mr Modi from speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the very day of the debate, and sharing on the social network X that he appreciated his Russian counterpart’s personal commitment “to deepening ties between India and Russia over the years”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)