Brussels, 23/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The second Round Table of representatives of the civil societies in the EU and India, on 16 and 17 July at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels (see EUROPE of 14 July, p.13), closed its work with the adoption of recommendations to the attention of the EU/India summit, that is to be held in New Delhi in November.
The participants mainly recommend that "best practice in the area of trade and investment" be identified (recognising the desirability of increased investment flows) while keeping in mind the issue of sustainable development and highlighting the mutual benefits of long-term investment in India and in the EU". They also call on the summit to consider "creating a bilateral structure to monitor sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and improving links between the EU and Indian high technology institutions and other centres of academic and technical excellence", also in the aim of intensifying "efforts to encourage SMEs to do business in each other's economics".
Furthermore, the Round Table recognises the "need for the WTO to continue its development of the global trading system. It should keep in mind the concerns of both partners represented on the Round Table". Finally, it calls for intensification of relations between Indian and European media and cultural organisations in order to extend cooperation in areas such as music, cinema, television and arts". It also calls on the governments of the EU and India to "earmark sufficient resources" so that recommendations may be put into practice. It notes in this connection that funds set aside for the EU/India Economic Cross-Cultural Programmes could be used for this purpose.