On 20 November 2018, the European Commission and the Vice President/High Representative adopted the Joint Communication ‘Elements for an EU strategy on India’. The Joint communication builds on the 2004 Commission communication on India and reflects the European Parliament’s recommendations adopted on June 2017 (Preda report).

It acknowledges that India is one of the world’s largest economies in terms of purchasing power parity and is the fastest-growing economy. India is to become the most populous country in the world, with half of its population under the age of 25. Currently the world’s fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it occupies a major place in a complex geo-strategic space.

The EU and India, strategic partners since 2004, both represent ‘unions of diversity’ sharing values and supporting a rule-based global order centred on multilateralism. The EU is India’s first trading partner, while India is the EU’s 9th largest trading partner.

The Joint Communication proposes to:

• reinforce the EU-India strategic partnership: for instance, engaging at a strategic level with relevant Indian authorities on its modernisation agenda; engaging in exchanges on macroeconomic trends addressing transportation issues of mutual interest; coordinating multilateral and bilateral approaches to climate change and energy security and support a clean energy transition; promoting sustainable use and management of living marine resources; encouraging city pairing initiatives. India’s efforts to develop its data protection legislation should be supported, with a view towards adopting a data adequacy decision by the European Commission. It is proposed to encourage joint research and innovation initiatives in support of sustainable modernisation, for instance setting up a European Innovation Centre to promote European science, technology and innovation interests in India.
• closer cooperate on global challenges: coordinating at multilateral level; supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement, addressing major environmental challenges and actively supporting the International Solar Alliance; enhancing the partnership on development cooperation; deepening systematic space cooperation.
• reinforce cooperation on foreign policy, security and defence: upgrading the yearly dialogue between the High Representative / Vice President of the EU and the Indian Minister for External Affairs to a regular Strategic Dialogue; strengthening technical cooperation on terrorism, radicalization, governance model of internet, cybersecurity and hybrid threats, maritime security, crisis management. It is proposed to develop military-to-military relations and consider deploying an EU military advisor in the EU Delegation in Delhi, encouraging reciprocity.
• realise the untapped potential of the trade and investment relationship: negotiating an agreements on trade and investment with a modern framework for investment protection; engaging with India to enhance market access, particularly for SMEs; enhancing business cooperation; establishing a regular ministerial high level dialogue.
• invest in talent and innovation: attracting more Indian participation in EU programmes; moving towards recognition of qualifications; developing transferable skills and competences in degree programmes; supporting cooperation and exchanges between the cultural and creative sectors; engaging in more joint activities for cultural heritage preservation and promotion.
• build on common values: promoting common global agendas on human rights and democracy, gender equality and women's empowerment; enhancing practical cooperation with and outreach to stakeholders, including the civil society; work together in third countries to help consolidate democratic processes; coordinate on humanitarian and disaster relief operations, as well as on food security.

The Joint Communication suggests to adopt a more joined-up and streamlined approach coordinating the work of the EU institutions and the diplomatic resources and initiatives of its Member States towards India. A clear EU-branding in India with more targeted public and digital diplomacy initiatives should be developed.

On 10 December 2018, the Council endorsed the Joint Communication. The Council welcomes the increasing role and responsibility of India on the global stage. The EU and India are strong defenders of multilateralism. The partnership between the EU and India should benefit from an improved business environment in India, enhanced and fair market access, alignment with international standards and practices, enforcement of intellectual property rights and investment protection. Therefore, the EU remains firmly committed to working towards a comprehensive, ambitious and mutually beneficial agreement with India on trade and investment. The Council also invites the Commission and the High Representative to reflect on the opportunity of a Strategic Partnership Agreement. Indian investments in Europe are a welcomed source of economic dynamism. The EU and India share a common vision of connectivity between Europe and Asia and the Council supports increased cooperation with India to address the infrastructure needs in the region.

Here are some examples of cooperation subsequent the adoption of the strategy:

1. On 22-24 January 2019, a delegation of EU military representatives visited Indian authorities in Mumbai and New Delhi to highlight the EU's role in fighting piracy and promoting maritime security in the Indian Ocean through its operation EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta;
2. On 7-8 February 2019, the workshop ‘Securing the maritime commons: India, the European Union and Indian Ocean maritime security’ gathered leading experts and senior officials from the EU and India;
3. On 11-13 February 2019 in Delhi, the EU participated to the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), reiterating its commitment to working with India on joint efforts at climate action. In this occasion, the fourth India-EU Water Forum presented the results of the India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP), and six Expressions of Intent and Memorandum of Understandings were exchanged.
4. On 26 February 2019 the Business Support to the EU-India Policy Dialogues' Project was launched Delhi, to promote collaboration of EU and Indian SMEs.
5. On 5 March 2019, the 12th EU-India Joint Steering Committee meeting on Science and Technology acknowledged the EU-India cooperation, recently boosted by the launch of seven India-EU projects on purification of water and waste water treatment, two on vaccines and one on polar sciences.
6. On 12 March 2019, the second EU-India Conference on Advance Biofuels took place in Delhi (welcome address by EU Ambassador Mr Tomasz Kozlowski)
7. On 15 March 2019, the EU and India signed the iElectrix cooperation project agreement to set up 1MW demonstration plant in Delhi under the Smart Grids Cooperation. The consortium includes 15 European partners and India's Tata Power. This project is co-funded under EU Horizon2020 to an extent of €8 million
8. On 26 April 2019, the European Commission published a call for proposals on ‘Support to civil society actors in promoting confidence-building and preventing radicalisation in South Asia & Knowledge Exchange on issues of importance to the EU-India Strategic Partnership’.
9. On 14-15 June 2019, an India-EU Seminar on Talent Mobility took place in Pune.
10. On 19 September 2019, during the 1st India-EU Urban Forum and 1st Joint working Group on Sustainable Urban Development, the EU and India agreed on a Joint Action Plan 2019-2020 on Smart and Sustainable Urbanization.
11. On 4 October 2019, the EU Delegation in India launched the 'Youth Climate Conclave' with a series of events, a photography contest and a blog competition.
12. Between 31 October and 19 November, EU-India Joint Call on Smart and Integrated Local Energy Systems events promoted a call for joint projects proposals for a €18 million total budget.

References:

• European Commission, Vice President/High Representative, Joint Communication on Elements for an EU strategy on India, JOIN(2018) 28 final
• European Commission, Fact Sheet. An EU Strategy on India
• Council of the European Union, EU Strategy on India - Council conclusions, 10 December 2018
• European Parliament, Report on EU political relations with India, 28 June 2017

Further reading:

• European Parliament, EPRS, India and prospects for closer EU ties, Briefing, September 2017

Author: Enrico D'Ambrogio, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu