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DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDATION

EU-India relations

to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-India relations

Committee on Foreign Affairs

(2023/2128(INI))

PE753.444

European Parliament recommendation of 17 January 2024 to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-India relations (2023/2128(INI))

– having regard to the EU-India Strategic Partnership established in 2004,

– having regard to the press statement of the Delegation to India and Bhutan on the 10th round of the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue held on 15 July 2022,

9997979EN)

(Ex AM 3( Or. en) of FdR AM\9997979EN)

– having regard to the conclusions of the G20 Summit held in New Delhi on 9 and 10 September 2023,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A9-0435/2023),

A. whereas the EU and India intend to convene at leaders’ meeting in New Delhi in early 2024, in partiuclarparticular to reaffirm the commitments of both sides to their strategic partnership and to review the implementation of the EU-India Roadmap 2025;

B. whereas India is set to hold parliamentary elections in May and June 2024 and the European Parliament will hold its elections in June 2024;

(o) enhance cooperation on hybrid threats, particularly in the fight against disinformation campaigns, through mechanisms aiming to share evidence and intelligence;

(p) recognise India’s contributions to freedom of navigation worldwide, in particular in the Taiwan Strait, but also its recent deployment of navy ships to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea that have been facing ongoing harassment by Houthi rebels; expand and broaden EU-India cooperation on maritime security also encourgaedencouraged by shared interests, in particular given China’s evolvingincreasingly presencepredatory economic and military actions in the Indo-Pacific; ensure a free and open, rules-based international order including freedom of navigation, open and secure SLOCs, enhanced security of shipping and more robust response systems for natural disasters and non-traditional security threats and for combating piracy and illegal fishing; build on experiences of constructive cooperation, in particular India’s support for the EU’s Naval Operation Atalanta (EUNAVFOR) by protecting World Food Programme vessels when requested, as well as its participation in joint passing exercises (PASSEX); follow up on the first EU-India naval exercises of June 2021 in the Gulf of Aden; encourage further a shared understanding of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; respond positively to the Indian proposal that the EU join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative; consider developing a joint EU-India regional maritime capacity-building programme for the smaller island and coastal states in the Indian Ocean;

(q) strengthen EU-India cooperation on disarmament and non-proliferation and encourage India to join EU efforts to promote nuclear safety and the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in the region;

(r) build on the EU’s first ever space strategy for security and defence,anddefence, and on India’s increasing focus on space security by taking a joint initiative to encourage partners to promote multilateral solutions for the peaceful use of space and safe, secure and sustainable access to space, and to counter the risks of its increasing militarisation;

(s) coordinate positions and initiatives in multilateral fora by pushing for joint objectives based on shared international values and standards, particularly in the UN, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and G20, effectively aligning positions in defence of multilateralism, human rights and an inclusive rules-based international order; engage in discussions on a reform of the UN Security Council and working methods and support India’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council; point out that the EU and India are two of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping and committed advocates for sustainable peace;

(t) promote joint action and coordination on development and humanitarian aid, strengthened connectivity, development of infrastructure and support for democratic processes in the Global South;

(u) engage with India on the issue ofitsof its heavy military dependency on Russia and on the EU’s sanctions policy towards Russia; urge India to join the international condemnation of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, while maintaining its political line of aiming for an end to hostilities and the resumption of diplomacy and dialogue; engage with India on its continued purchases of crude oil from Russia at low prices and India’s subsequent sale of refined oil products on international markets, as well as its involvement in the trade in Russian diamonds, including in the EU; pay attention to India’s dependency on Russia in the nuclear energy sector, in particular for the further development of its nuclear power plants; insist that India cease further joint military exercises with this aggressor state; encourage India to halt joint military equipment production and downgrade defence cooperation with Russia; ensure proper monitoring of the implementation of restrictive measures and sanction any attempt at circumventing them, in particular by EU-based businesses who must cease purchasing such products, which constitute in essence a circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia; take consideration of the concerns with agreements and projects, such as the International North-South Transport Corridor, and new frameworks for investments and free trade between Russia and India, which will significantly increase Russia’s ability to circumvent sanctions, increase its footprint in the region, be detrimental to India’s economic and financial resilience and damage prospects for a stronger EU-India political and economic partnership;

(v) continue to closely monitor the worrying situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, in particular the respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people; remain committed to supporting stability, de-escalation and rapprochement through good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan on the basis of the principles of international law and through a comprehensive dialogue and a step-by-step approach; promote the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and the recommendations made in reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Kashmir;

(ab) emphasise the importance of India demonstrating its commitment to respect, protect and fully enforce the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression for all, including online, media freedom and the right to peaceful assembly and association and the independence of the judiciary; encourage India to create an environment conducive to diverse and independent journalism and to protect all media professionals as provided for by its Constitution;

(ac) work jointly with India to secure a safe and democratic environment for the work of human rights and environmental defenders, indigenous people and Dalit rights defenders, political opponents and trade union activists, journalists and other civil society actors; to cease invoking laws against sedition, foreign funding and terrorism as a means to restrict their legitimate activities, including in Indian-administered Kashmir; to release all political prisoners; to stop blanket restrictions on internet access; to review laws in order to avoid their possible abuse to silence dissent; to amend laws that foster discrimination and facilitate access to justice and ensure accountability for human rights violations; and to address the harmful effects of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on civil society organisations; increase EU and Member State support for civil society organisations and human rights defenders, including by facilitating funding opportunities;

(ad) welcome the adoption of the Women’s Reservation Bill, which will reserve one third of seats in national and state parliaments for women and is a notable step forward in the right to participation for women and gender equality in India; engage with India on its efforts to investigate and prevent gender-based violence and discrimination and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment;

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the legislative bodies and Government of India.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT – SUMMARY OF FACTS AND FINDINGS

The aim of this recommendation is to broaden and deepen EU-India relations by making progress in priority areas that are in the interest of both sides and the well-being of their respective citizens through enhanced cooperation in various areas, as outlined in the EU-India Roadmap 2025.

The recommendation calls for shared action and leadership in global arena on issues such as the implementation of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The recommendation underlines the need for stronger, inclusive and rules-based connectivity between the EU and India in the areas of digitalisation, transport, climate, environment, energy and health.

The recommendation expresses its concern for the deterioration of the human rights situation and the shrinking civic space in India, and calls for the EU and India to jointly work towards safeguarding democratic and human rights of all citizens, and for human rights to be brought to the heart of the EU-India partnership.

It considers India as a key ally to the EU in the Indo-Pacific, where they share an interest to ensure free, open and rules-based international order. It recognises security and defence policy as an area of increasing importance and with high potential, particularly in terms of maritime security.

Altogether, it makes a pressing recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and India on the basis of democratic governance and international law, and to start preparing for an ambitious new partnership after the EU-India Roadmap that comes to an end in 2025.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that she has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, until the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

European External Action Service

Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA)

The London Story

International Dalit Solidarity Network

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Embassy of India to the European Union

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

7.12.2023

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

37

0

1

Members present for the final vote

Alexander Alexandrov Yordanov, Maria Arena, Petras Auštrevičius, Traian Băsescu, Anna Fotyga, Michael Gahler, Sunčana Glavak, Andrius Kubilius, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, David Lega, Leopoldo López Gil, Thierry Mariani, Pedro Marques, Sven Mikser, Alessandra Moretti, Matjaž Nemec, Tonino Picula, Thijs Reuten, Andreas Schieder, Radosław Sikorski, Jordi Solé, Dominik Tarczyński, Hilde Vautmans, Thomas Waitz, Charlie Weimers, Željana Zovko

Substitutes present for the final vote

Özlem Demirel, Engin Eroglu, Andrey Kovatchev, Katrin Langensiepen, Ramona Strugariu, Javier Zarzalejos

Substitutes under Rule 209(7) present for the final vote

Pablo Arias Echeverría, Dace Melbārde, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Inma Rodríguez-Piñero, Maria Spyraki, Rainer Wieland

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

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