Parliament calls for India to become a privileged partner to the European Union - For an annual Euro-Indian summit

15/03/1999 (Agence Europe)

With its adoption last week, by 61 unanimous votes, of the report by Belgian Liberal Anne-André Léonard, the European Parliament voiced support for the Commission's efforts to enhance the partnership between the European Union and India. It nevertheless asserted that the development of Euro-Indian relations would depend upon the choices made by India onnuclear disarmament. Parliament recommended the holding of an annual Euro-Indian summit (see EUROPE of 5 March, page 12, for more on the Léonard report).

The EP strengthened the report, adopting several amendments by Italian Radical Olivier Dupuis. It called on the EU to make closer political and economic ties with India a priority of its common foreign and security policy. The Commission is invited to considerably reinforce staff numbers and the financial resources of its delegation in this country. Parliament welcomed the measures taken by the Indian Government to restore confidence in the region, particularly its commitment to renounce a first nuclear strike and its decision to participate in negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) and to strictly control exports of nuclear technology and material. The Indian Government is asked to pursue its efforts to come up with a peaceful and sustainable solution to the issue of Nagaland, guaranteeing the Naga people a large measure of autonomy.

During debate, Commissioner Mario Monti stressed the importance the European Union attaches to avoiding an arms race and to India's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. After welcoming India's democratic tradition, he called for enhanced dialogue with this country and its civil society. Recalling that economic dialogue was launched last January, he noted that Parliament's vote was a timely one. "It is reassuring to see that we have Parliament's support for developing the partnership", said Mr Monti, who considers the idea of an annual summit worthy of being examined in a constructive frame of mind. And he added that the introduction of such an instrument could be a good illustration of a new way of conceiving of the common foreign and security policy.