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REPORT (2023/2128(INI))

On a European Parliament recommendation 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

A-9-2023-0435

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Alviina Alametsä

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The Committee on Foreign Affairs recommends that the Council, Commission and VP/HR broaden and deepen the EU-India strategic partnership, pursue a 'Team Europe' approach and prepare a revamped partnership after the EU-India Roadmap to 2025. It asks for closer foreign, security and defence cooperation, including annual security dialogues, maritime security, counter-terrorism, disarmament and space, and for coordination in the UN, WTO and G20. It calls for human rights and democracy at the heart of EU-India relations, condemning violence and discrimination, urging action on caste-based discrimination, press freedom, the death penalty and the UN Universal Periodic Review. It seeks cooperation on climate, energy, digital, health and connectivity, an effective Trade and Technology Council, and an FTA based on human rights and sustainability impact assessments.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs recommends that the Council, Commission and VP/HR broaden and deepen the EU-India strategic partnership, strengthen cooperation on security, human rights, climate and trade, and prepare an ambitious new partnership after the EU-India Roadmap ends in 2025.

Key points

  1. Recommends continuing to broaden EU-India relations as strategic partners, upholding regular multi-level dialogues and summits and pursuing a 'Team Europe' approach.
  2. Calls for tangible advances on climate change and green growth, digitalisation, research, connectivity, trade and investment, foreign, security and defence policy and human rights.
  3. Asks to fully implement the EU Strategy on India of 2018 and the EU-India Roadmap to 2025, with clear public criteria for measuring progress, and to prepare a revamped partnership.
  4. Wants parliamentary oversight of EU policy towards India, a structured inter-parliamentary dialogue, and an EU-India Civil Society Platform and Youth Summit.
  5. Calls for annual bilateral security dialogues, closer military-to-military cooperation, and emphasis on the EU-India Counter Terrorism Dialogue.
  6. Seeks expanded maritime security cooperation, including freedom of navigation, secure sea lines of communication, and a joint regional maritime capacity-building programme for smaller island and coastal states.
  7. Urges India to join international condemnation of Russia's war against Ukraine, and calls for monitoring of sanctions and action against EU-based businesses circumventing them.
  8. Calls for human rights and democratic values at the heart of EU engagement, condemning violence, nationalist rhetoric and laws discriminating on grounds of religion.
  9. Urges India to act on all Universal Periodic Review recommendations, facilitate UN special procedure visits, and protect freedom of expression, media freedom and the independence of the judiciary.
  10. Presses India to end caste-based discrimination, grant Adivasi rights under the Forest Rights Act, and adopt a country strategy to fight caste-based discrimination.
  11. Calls for an FTA based on prior human rights and sustainability impact assessments, with an enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development chapter aligned with the Paris Agreement.
  12. Welcomes the EU-India Connectivity Partnership and the Trade and Technology Council, and calls for cooperation on climate, energy, digital, health and AI standards.

Who is affected

  • The Council, Commission and VP/HR, who are asked to act on the recommendations.
  • India, which is urged to act on human rights, trade, climate and security matters.
  • EU-based businesses, which must cease purchasing refined oil products constituting circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia.
  • EU and Indian civil society, including trade unions, environmental and women's rights organisations, to be consulted and involved.

Figures and deadlines

  • EU-India Strategic Partnership established in 2004.
  • 15th EU-India summit of 15 July 2020.
  • EU-India Trade and Technology Council established on 6 February 2023.
  • India's energy needs set to more than double in the next 20 years.
  • Women's Reservation Bill reserves one third of seats in national and state parliaments for women.