PM hails strategic partnership with EU

Singh’s delegation includes External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath. His discussions with the EU leadership would be reflected in a comprehensive joint statement, to be issued at the conclusion of the summit.

Stating that Europe is an important political and strategic factor in the international sphere, the PM said the EU had recently increased its membership from 15 to 25, erasing the vertical faultline that divided the European continent for over a century.

The EU is emerging as a politically influential, economically powerful and demographical diverse regional entity in the world. It is not only India’s largest trading partner but also the largest source of foreign direct investment, he said.

‘‘It is an important source of technology and home to a large and influential Indian diaspora,’’ said Singh. ‘‘India and the EU are natural partners. Our relations are based on shared values — democracy, pluralism, rule of law, free press and independent judiciary. Our partnership has evolved over the years from economic development and cooperation to broad-based engagement on a wide range of issues — globalisation, terrorism, proliferation, energy and environment,’’ he added.

The PM is visiting the Hague to attend the fifth Indo-EU summit hosted by his counterpart in Netherland, Jan Peter Balkenende.

During his stay at the Hague, Singh will address an interactive session of prominent CEOs of EU business and industry and senior representatives of the Indian industry, with the purpose of identifying and utilising opportunities for ties for greater trade and investment. He will also call on Queen Beatrix of Netherland.

This is the fifth Indo-EU summit, which was first instituted in Lisbon in 2000. The upgradation of the relationship to strategic partnership on Monday is being seen by both sides as a landmark in their relations.

EU has strategic partnership with only five other countries — US, Canada, Russia, Japan and China. Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said the summit was very significant because it came close to the recent expansion of the EU, which New Delhi sees as an important pole in a multipolar world that India favours.

Saran said global approach to issues like transnational terrorism and reforms of the UN Security Council, in the context of India’s demand for a permanent seat in it, will figure during the summit discussions. The institutionalisation of summit-level interaction is a signal that EU sees India as an emerging economic power and a factor of stability, regionally and globally.