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That India is to be the European Union’s sixth Strategic Partner after the US, Canada, Russia, China and Japan is ample evidence of India’s growing stature internationally.
Add to that the Goldman Sachs report on India’s likely economic growth over the next two decades and the fact that eminent personalities like John Major and Henry Kissinger have outspokenly endorsed India’s claim to a permanent berth in the UN Security Council and you can not but agree with India Inc that the largest democracy in the world is heading for a prominent place in the first world.
Perhaps the greatest silent revolution we are witness to in these times is the peaceful integration of Europe. Recently, the EU was enlarged to twenty-five member States.
The establishment of a Constitution for the citizens of the EU is a decisive milestone on the road to political integration of Europe. At this historic point of time, it is illuminating and also sobering, to recall that the two nations that are most dynamically engaged in taking forward EU integration are France and Germany - once sworn enemies.
The EU has laid stress upon the issue of human rights and expects its members to fulfill the basic requirements of a liberal democracy. This is good news and therefore it is important that for world peace and democratic progress, the European integration comes through successfully.
Strategic Alliance with the EU would give India considerable economic leverage. It would allow greater and substantive cooperation between the two sides in commerce, trade, industry and technology. India would be favourably placed to further penetrate the massive European market of four hundred and fifty million people.
New Delhi is keen to tackle the issue of non-tariff barriers to Indian exports to Europe, and also, easier access for Indian pharmaceuticals. A Strategic Partnership with the EU would thus position India in a win-win situation.
Politically, ‘the EU represents a very important pole in a multi-polar world order. We have to look at a more multilateral approach to global challenges, whether terrorism, environment or the question of how to strengthen the UN,’ says a foreign ministry official.
On the technical front, India will be looking to use the Strategic Partnership to step up cooperation on energy, by participating in the Fusion Energy project.
The two sides have agreed to double their trade volume to Euro 50 billion by 2008. India is clearly on the brink of enormous growth and strategic importance.
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