EU-India summit postponed after ‘local trouble’

By Sarah Jenkins

Date: 07/10/04

THE EU-India summit, which was to take place on 13-14 October in The Hague, has been cancelled.

In a statement to the Dutch presidency, the Indian government gave "pressing domestic circumstances" as the reason for postponing the meeting. Recent ethnic clashes in the north eastern province of Nagaland, which have seen more than 60 die in the past few days, have stopped a high-level delegation from India attending the summit.

"I was surprised by the statement," said Amar Sinha, in charge of political affairs at the Indian embassy to the EU. The embassy suggested that an additional reason for the postponement was Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's poor health. Balkenende is in hospital suffering from an infection of his right foot.

There is no confirmation as to when the summit will be rescheduled. The main point on the agenda was the EU-India Strategic Partnership proposed by the European Commission in June. The Indian government would like the talks to continue under the Dutch presidency.

The related EU-India business summit, scheduled for 13 October, has also been postponed, according to a spokesman from the Dutch ministry of economic affairs.

Trade between India and the EU has grown constantly over the last decade, nearly trebling to €27 billion today, according to MEP Armin Laschet. The EU is India's largest trading partner and main source of foreign direct investment. But India is only the EU's 20th trading partner.

Building on the success of economic cooperation, the EU and India are seeking to strengthen their political relations. "With India, Europe shares not only common interests but also common values. This is a very important basis for a strategic partnership," Laschet said.

Tomasz Koszlowski, head of the Asia taskforce in the Council of Ministers, said there were many opportunities for strategic cooperation between the EU and India. Conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction (such as in Afghanistan), the fight against terror and organized crime and the non-proliferation of weapons are some key areas in which the two should work together, he added.

The EU-India summit, which was to take place on 13-14 October 2004 in The Hague, was cancelled on request of the Indian government.

EEAS: Countries: The EU's relations with India http://www.eeas.europa.eu/india/index_en.htm

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