Action-oriented agenda needed to expand EU-India ties: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (July 15) pitched for an ‘action-oriented’ agenda to further expand ties between India and the 27-nation European Union within a stipulated time frame.

In his inaugural remarks at the fifteenth EU-India summit, the Prime Minister said he was committed to enhancing ties with the grouping, noting that a long-term strategic perspective should be adopted to boost the relationship.

Addressing the India-EU Summit. https://t.co/7rdTwnafaM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2020

“We should go for an action-oriented agenda to expand ties and it can be implemented within a stipulated time frame,” Modi said at the virtual summit.

“In the post-COVID world, there have been new challenges in the economic world globally. To solve this, democratic countries must come together,” he asserted.

Modi had earlier tweeted, “I am confident this Summit will further strengthen our economic as well as cultural linkages with Europe.”

Will take part in the India-EU Summit at 4:30 PM today. I am confident this Summit will further strengthen our economic as well as cultural linkages with Europe.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2020

Officials of the EU said the summit is aimed at further broad basing ties on a range of areas including trade, investment and defence, according to Hindustan Times.

Calling India and EU “natural partners”, the Prime Minister said the partnership is beneficial for peace and stability in the world. “India and EU share universal values like democracy, pluralism, respect for international institutions, inclusivity, multilateralism, freedom and transparency,” he said.

The Prime Minister said India-EU partnership can play an important role in economic reconstruction and in building a human-centric globalisation. “Today, both the health and prosperity of our citizens are facing challenges. In such a situation, the India-EU partnership can play an important role in economic reconstruction and in building a human-centric and human-centric globalization,” he said.

“Apart from the current challenges, long-term challenges like climate change are also a priority for both of us. In our efforts to increase the use of renewable energy in India, we invite the investment and technology of Europe,” he added.

The European Union delegation at the summit is headed by President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

The EU is a strategically important grouping for India. The EU as a whole was India’s largest trading partner in 2018. India’s bilateral trade with the EU in 2018-19 stood at USD 115.6 billion with exports valued at USD 57.17 billion and imports worth USD 58.42 billion.

(With inputs from agencies)