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DRAFT 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

AFET-PR-753444

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Alviina Alametsä

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is a draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs containing a proposed European Parliament recommendation to the Council, Commission and VP/HR on EU-India relations. It recommends broadening the strategic partnership, deepening foreign and security policy cooperation, placing human rights at the centre of engagement, and boosting cooperation on climate, energy, digital and connectivity issues. It asks India to condemn Russia's war against Ukraine, to act on UN human rights recommendations, and to protect civil society and human rights defenders.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament recommend to the Council, Commission and VP/HR a broad deepening of EU-India relations across institutional, security, human rights, climate, digital and connectivity areas, and that India be urged to condemn Russia's war and improve its human rights record.

Key points

  1. Recommends that the Council, Commission and VP/HR broaden and deepen EU-India relations as strategic partners and pursue a 'Team Europe' approach.
  2. Calls for full implementation of the EU Strategy on India of 2018 and the EU-India Roadmap to 2025, in coordination with Member States.
  3. Says any deepening of the partnership should be based on freedom, democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, equality and respect for human rights.
  4. Asks for regular consultation and involvement of EU and Indian civil society in developing, implementing and monitoring EU-India relations.
  5. Calls for annual bilateral security dialogues with greater involvement of EU Member States, and expanded cooperation on maritime security.
  6. Urges India to join international condemnation of Russia's war against Ukraine and presses EU-based businesses to stop buying refined products made from Russian crude oil.
  7. Calls for close monitoring of the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, of stability between India and Pakistan, and of the India-China border dispute.
  8. Asks that human rights and democratic values be placed at the heart of EU engagement with India, including concern about India's Citizenship Amendment Act and caste-based discrimination.
  9. Insists India act on all recommendations in its Universal Periodic Review and address the situation of civil society and human rights defenders.
  10. Calls for a safe environment for human rights defenders, journalists and trade union activists, and for ending the use of sedition and terrorism laws against them.
  11. Welcomes the Women's Reservation Bill and India's national action plan on business and human rights, and calls for upgrading the EU-India human rights dialogue to a bi-annual, headquarters-level dialogue.
  12. Welcomes the EU-India Connectivity Partnership and calls for cooperation on climate, energy, health, digital issues, artificial intelligence, mobility and people-to-people exchanges.

Who is affected

  • The Council, Commission and VP/HR, who are asked to act on the recommendations.
  • India's government and legislative bodies, which are asked to act on human rights, Ukraine and border issues.
  • EU and Indian civil society, human rights defenders, journalists and trade union activists, whose involvement and protection are sought.
  • EU-based businesses, which are pressed to stop purchasing refined products made from Russian crude oil.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2004, the year the EU-India Strategic Partnership was established.
  • 15 July 2020, date of the 15th EU-India summit joint statement.
  • 2025, the target year of the EU-India Roadmap.
  • 2022, the year the EU and India marked the 60th anniversary of their bilateral partnership.
  • Article 25 of India's constitution, on the right to freely practice one's religion.