The 8th India-European Union Summit was held in New Delhi on 30 November 2007. The summit coincided with the 60th year of India’s independence and 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, represented India.

Prime Minister of Portugal Mr José Sócrates in his capacity as President of the European Council, President of the European Commission Mr José Manuel Barroso, European Commissioner for Trade Mr Peter Mandelson, and Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr João Gomes Cravinho represented the EU.

Strategic Partnership

The summit underscored the commitment of both India and EU to the Strategic Partnership launched at the Hague Summit in November 2004. The summit noted that the Strategic Partnership represented a shared conviction by both sides on the values of democracy, fundamental freedoms, pluralism, rule of law, respect for human rights and multilateralism in the international political architecture as means to tackle global challenges.

The two sides welcomed the signing of a MoU on the Country Strategy Paper for India for the period 2007-10, with a total budget of Euro 260 million to support India’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and the India-EU Joint Action Plan.

The summit reviewed the Joint Action Plan, adopted at the 6th India-EU Summit in New Delhi in September 2005 and welcomed the progress in implementation and looked forward to further advances. The two sides will make an assessment of the Joint Action Plan in 2008 and find ways and means to upgrade the overall framework of EU-India relations in the following areas.

• Bilateral cooperation programme on innovation

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emission

• Research on clean development and climate change

• Promotion of energy security

• Sustainable energy supply

The leaders expressed satisfaction at the intensification of the dialogue at various levels between the two strategic partners as well as between India and individual EU member states.

Parliamentary Caucus

The summit welcomed the formation of a Delegation for Relations with India in the European Parliament. It observed that the creation of an Indian Parliamentary Caucus for relations with the EU would encourage interaction between Parliamentarians from both sides.

The leaders also underlined the need to step up people-to-people contact between India and EU member states, among businesspeople, professionals and members of official delegations, as well as researchers, scientists, students, academicians and civil society representatives.

Doha Round

India and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to the rule-based multilateral trading system and deepening of bilateral trade relations. The successful and timely outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) for multilateral trade negotiations became the foremost trade policy priority of the two sides. Both sides decided to work together to ensure the successful conclusion of the DDA negotiations with focus on comprehensive, balanced and ambitious outcome in all areas of negotiation.

They also agreed that development mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration must be honoured and reflected in the modalities and final outcome. A successful conclusion of the negotiations must yield an outcome that enhances market opening and contributes to development.

The leaders noted that bilateral trade and investment between India and the EU has been growing steadily and reflected the strengthening of bilateral economic ties. They took note of the work of the High Level Trade Group since the last Summit in concluding a broad-based Trade and Investment proposal.

India and the EU welcomed the progress achieved in the first few rounds of negotiations on the India-EU Trade and Investment Agreement and reaffirmed commitment to intensify negotiations. Both sides welcomed the India-EU Business Summit coinciding with the political dialogue. The second meeting of the EU-India CEO Round Table provided for useful and constructive interactions among key Business leaders from both sides.

European Business and Technology Centre

The Indian side welcomed the proposal for creation of a European Business and Technology Centre in India, with the objective to promote private and public partnerships in specific sectors such as energy, environment, clean development and climate change.

Security Dialogue

The leaders reiterated their commitment to promote international peace and security. The summit placed great value to the India-EU Security Dialogue, held at Berlin in May 2007, where exchange of views on security issues, including disarmament and non-proliferation and other bilateral issues of mutual concern took place.

UN Reform

Emphasising multilateralism, the summit called for a rule-based international order. The two sides reiterated their commitment to augment cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora in order to jointly address issues of global concern, including human rights, development and environment.

The Summit underlined the importance of a strong, effective and efficient United Nations Organisation and underscored the need for comprehensive reforms in the United Nations. The Summit agreed to work jointly towards strengthening the role of the UN Human Rights Council and Peace-building Commission and maintain momentum in the efforts to adapt the United Nations to the needs of today’s world.

India and the EU are ready to contribute as partners to global efforts to address the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery while preserving and promoting cooperation in peaceful uses of technology through forward looking approaches among countries committed to disarmament and non-proliferation.

The leaders emphasised the urgent need for the international community to promote a comprehensive peace plan for the Middle East/West Asia, with the objective of reaching comprehensive, just and durable peace and stability in the region. They reaffirmed their support for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on existing agreements, including relevant UNSC Resolutions, the Roadmap, and the Arab League Resolution at Beirut in 2002.

Integration of Africa

The leaders recognised the efforts being made by both sides to support the sustainable development of Africa to promote its integration into the world economy on fair terms.

They emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation in supporting peace and security in Africa, to prevent conflict and assist countries emerging from conflict.

The leaders discussed the evolving situation in Myanmar and agreed that the process of national reconciliation and political reform should be inclusive, broad-based and taken forward expeditiously. They expressed their support to the offices of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar to resolve issues peacefully through dialogue and appreciated the efforts of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

India and the EU expressed their strong support for a sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan and reaffirmed their sustained commitment to assist the Afghan Government in the stabilisation and rebuilding of Afghanistan, within the framework of the Afghanistan Compact. They welcomed Afghanistan joining SAARC as its eighth member at the 14th Summit held in New Delhi in April 2007.

EU as Observer in SAARC

India welcomed the EU’s participation as an observer in the 14th SAARC Summit, held in New Delhi on 1-4 April 2007. It was the first summit where observers were allowed into SAARC. Both sides expressed hope that this would further enhance cooperation between SAARC and the EU.