India and the European Union (EU) on Monday determined to arrange a commerce and know-how council to spice up bilateral ties, because the bloc’s president Ursula von der Leyen met Prime Minister Narendra Modi right here, weeks earlier than the 2 sides are to renew negotiations for a free commerce settlement (FTA) in June.
The transfer underscores rising co-operation between New Delhi and Brussels, because the US is the one different nation that has a technical settlement with the EU, alongside the traces of the one signed with India now. The council is aimed toward offering political-level oversight of the complete spectrum of the India-EU ties and to make sure nearer coordination.
Both the leaders reviewed progress within the India-EU Strategic Partnership, which additionally included negotiations for the FTA, and determined to additional deepen cooperation in commerce, local weather, digital know-how and people-to-people ties.
They additionally mentioned points referring to local weather change and the opportunity of collaboration in areas like inexperienced hydrogen.
Both sides agreed that “rapid changes in the geopolitical environment highlight the need for joint in-depth strategic engagement”, based on an India-EU joint assertion.
The proposed commerce and know-how council might embrace discussions on the overall information safety regulation, social media and broader digitalization efforts, Bloomberg had earlier reported, quoting an unnamed western official.
Formal negotiations with the EU for the FTA have been caught over stark variations over market entry points after 16 rounds of talks between 2006 and 2013. Both the perimeters have now determined to take the negotiation to its logical conclusion.
The EU president is on a two-day journey to India, which, analysts say, is a part of Western efforts to influence New Delhi to chop down on its ties with Russia, its high weapons provider, within the wake of Moscow’s army aggression in Ukraine. The EU needs to venture itself as a viable various to Russia, particularly in commerce and defence issues, stated the analysts.
Last week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson additionally visited India and pitched for hammering out an FTA by Diwali in October, aside from bolstering defence co-operation. Johnson’s go to was preceded by these of senior officers of the Biden administration and the international ministers of Russia and China.
India has stopped wanting explicitly condemning Russia’s invasionbut has known as for a right away finish to violence. “I think this relationship today is more important than ever. We have a lot in common but we are also facing a challenging political landscape,” von der Leyen stated in her opening remarks throughout a gathering with Modi.
Russia’s conflict in Ukraine was a stark reminder that the reliance on Russian fossil fuels isn’t sustainable, von der Leyen had stated at an occasion on Sunday, calling for deeper cooperation between the 2 sides to broaden using clear power.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”