EU - India - Class Notes 4 You

EU - India

Intro: Relationship founded on the bedrock of democratic values and spirit of multilateral-ism.
Basis of this partnership is Michael Doyle's democratic peace theory (cooperation amongst democracies)

After independence, India's foreign policy objectives were to establish relations with global powers like USA and USSR and emerge as a leader of the third world through NAM. This , in the words of CR Mohan led to a “strategic neglect” of the European continent.
relationship was upgraded to “strategic partnership” in 2004 (same year UK became strategic partner as well)
In 2018 , EU came out with strategy on India that viewed India as an emerging global power that plays a key role in the current multi-polar world and a factor of stability in a complex region and calls for greater India – EU political, security and defence cooperation
At recent India-EU summit , 2020 they have come out with India EU strategic partnership: A road-map for 2025 that has opened up new areas of global and bilateral cooperation

EU is India’s third largest trading partner And India is EU’s 9 largest trading partner
$90 B of bilateral trade 2019-20

US retreat and Chinese expansionism has opened new avenues of cooperation between EU and India
Bilateral strategic partnership encompasses 31 dialogue mechanisms
For EU India is going to become one of the largest markets facilitating job creation and investment
THE EU-INDIA CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING GLOBAL RESOURCE PRESSURE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
EU+27 summit with India, May,2021-

many analysts have called the summit as a “turning point.”
Relaunched FTA talks suspended since 2013
Apart from the US, India is the only country with which EU has had summit in this format, showing India's growing salience in EU’s geopolitical calculations
India and the EU launched an ambitious and comprehensive ‘Connectivity Partnership’ which is focused on enhancing digital, energy, transport and people-to-people connectivity.
India welcomed the EU’s decision to join CDRI. India and the EU also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation on digital and emerging technologies such as 5G, AI,etc
The leaders acknowledged the importance of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific and agreed to closely engage in the region, including in the context of India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative and the EU’s new strategy on the Indo-Pacific.

European investment bank opened its office in New Delhi in 2017 and has extended credit for various projects in India
Coop in counter terrorism, maritime security, nuclear non proliferation
Defence- Information Fusion Centre-IOR linked to Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) established by EU naval force
Indian students avail Erasmus+ scholarship for studies in EU countries.
Both EU and India have a common interest in avoiding a bipolar world and sustaining a rules-based multilateral system with the UN and WTO at its core
EU is supporting the mobilise your city program in India currently in three pilot city is to reduce urban transport related GHG emissions
EU along with Australia called for independent inquiry into the COVID outbreak
Recently India-Europe trade and technology council was launched. EU has this mechanism only with the US

3 EU countries- France, Netherlands and Germany have come up with their Indo-pacific strategy that calls for a free and open Indo pacific based on rules based world order.
India is looking at EU countries as a natural partners in forging a durable BOP in the Indo pacific region.
Recently EU has released its “ EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo pacific” that highlights “china’s expansionism as threat to European security and prosperity” and focuses on “centrality of ASEAN” in the Indo pacific

-What was once a taboo in Delhi- regional security cooperation with former European colonial powers, has now become a strategic necessity.
India’s new emphasis on strengthening security cooperation with Britain and the EU within the framework of Indo-Pacific security is matched by a new commitment to seek trade liberalization with Europe as well. The new interest in deepening commercial ties comes amid India’s efforts to decouple its economy from China’s.
As it confronts a rising China, India needs both the United States and Europe to construct a multi-polar Asia.

A strong cooperation between Asian and European powers has become an indispensable element of the geopolitics of the East.

Being the largest democracies and unions of linguistically, culturally and ethnically diverse States, both the EU and India are well suited for a special relationship, but the reality is that the status is one without any spark of mutual chemistry.
It is known as loveless arranged marriage
Sticking points in BTIA

started in 2007 , have been suspended due to “gap in ambitions” of both parties
Opposition from Indian dairy sector
Opposition from farmers especially in wines and spirit
EU has not given India the status of data secure nation hence posing restrictions for its IT companies
EU’s emphasis on strong IPR regimes
EU reluctant to liberalise its service sector, movement of persons
The EU’s insistence on labour and environmental standards, access to government procurement, stricter intellectual property rules and cross-border data flow will not be easy for India to meet. With India’s move towards data localization, negotiations could be acrimonious. While India will seek to have zero duty access for textiles, garments and leather products, UK and EU will seek mar- ket access in automobiles, wines and Scotch whisky.

India accounts for only 2% of EU’s external trade while china stands at 14%
Time and again EU’s calls for alleged HR violations in Kashmir and on recent CAA act create diplomatic mistrust between the two entities
India’s excessive focus on select countries like France,UK and Germany
EU dragging feet on TRIPS waiver
EU has categorically said that it doesn’t consider China as a threat but just a “systemic challenge.”
Russia which does not subscribe to Indo pacific as a concept may threaten military action or stop supply of natural gas to the Europian countries to deter them from investing heavily in the Indo pacific
US’ attempts to thaw relations with Russia and invest in multilateral alliances with EU through the NATO can help EU play a greater role in the Indo pacific and build a rules based world order that is threated by Chinese aggression and expansionism

https://www.gmfus.org/blog/2021/05/04/turning-point-europe-and-india
https://orfamerica.org/newresearch/the-eu-india-partnership-follow-up-focus-and-free-trade
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-eu-summit-2020-partners-for-a-21st-century-rules-based-order/
https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-future-of-india-eu-relations/
https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/papers/the-european-union-india-connectivity-partnership-enlarging-choices-challenging-china/
https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/papers/the-european-union-and-the-indo-pacific-exploring-the-nexus/

Class Notes 4 You