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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Political Science & International
Relations

Lecture: India- European

Union|| India- West Asia
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India-European Union

Introduction-
❖ India-EU relations date to the early 1960s, with India being amongst the first
countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community.
❖ A cooperation agreement signed in 1994 took the bilateral relationship beyond trade
and economic cooperation. At the 5th India-EU Summit held at The Hague in 2004,
the relationship was upgraded to a ‘Strategic Partnership’.
❖ The two sides adopted a Joint Action Plan in 2005 that provided for strengthening
dialogue and consultation mechanisms in the political and economic spheres, enhancing
trade and investment, and bringing peoples and cultures together.
❖ The EU is a significant trade partner for India and the two sides have been attempting
to negotiate a free trade deal since 2007.
A Brief Introduction to EU:
❖ The European Union (EU) is a highly successful regional organization, constituting the
world's largest trade bloc, with about one-fifth of global trade. It serves as a significant
market and source of development assistance for developing countries.
❖ France and the UK, both EU members, hold nuclear power status and permanent seats
on the UN Security Council. Germany, another member, is a strong candidate for
future UN Security Council expansion.
❖ Four EU countries are part of the G-8, and all are among the world's most advanced
economies. The EU originated from the Treaty of Rome in 1957, aiming to minimize
trade barriers, travel restrictions, and establish a common currency, possibly leading
to a political union. While NATO handles military and security matters, the EU focuses
on economic and commercial cooperation among its member states.
Timeline of Relationship-
❖ In 1962, India was the first developing country to establish diplomatic relations with
European community. EU-India Cooperation Agreement 1994 provides the legal
framework for EU-India relations.
❖ India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. Since the Lisbon summit in
2000, India and EU have held regular summits.
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Dimensions of the India-EU Relationship-

Political Dialogue:
❖ The first India-EU Summit took place in Lisbon in June 2000 and marked a watershed
in the evolution of the relationship. Since then, fifteen annual summits have been held,
the latest one was held in 2021.
❖ The two sides reviewed bilateral relations as well as exchanged views on regional and
global issues. The leaders expressed satisfaction at the intensification of negotiations on
the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement, welcomed the enhanced cooperation
in the field of security, and called for finalization of an agreement on R&D cooperation
in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Parliamentary Interaction:
❖ A Delegation for Relations with India was formally constituted in the European
Parliament in 2007 to follow relations with India. Select members also pay an
orientation visit to India every year, and the lasts such visit took place in 2022
Economic and Trade Relations:
❖ The EU is India's largest trading partner with 12.5% of India's overall trade between
2015 and 2016, ahead of China (10.8%) and the United States (9.3%). India is the
EU's 9th largest trading partner with 2.4% of the EU's overall trade.
❖ India’s export to the EU consists of engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, gems and
jewellery, other manufactured goods and chemicals.
❖ As of 2021, EU is India's third largest trading partner, accounting for €88 billion
worth of trade in goods or 10.8% of total Indian trade.
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Civil Society, Cultural and Educational Contacts:

❖ The India-EU Forum has emerged as an important Track II forum for discussion
between policy analysts on both sides. It is led by the Paris-based European Union
Institute for Security Studies and the Indian Council of World Affairs and includes
participation from academics, think-tanks, and on the EU side, even policy makers.
❖ The framework of India-EU cooperation in the fields of education and culture is
provided by three Joint Declarations signed in recent years covering cooperation in the
fields of Education and Training, Multilingualism and Culture.
❖ The EU leadership also participated actively in the Europalia-India festival inaugurated
in Brussels on 4 October 2013 by President Pranab Mukherjee and King Philippe of
Belgium.
Bilateral Agreements:
❖ Over the years, India and the EU have signed a number of bilateral agreements and
MoUs.
➢ Science and Technology Agreement (2001)
➢ Joint Vision for promoting Cooperation in the ICT (2001)
➢ Customs Cooperation Agreement (2004)
➢ Cooperation in Employment and Social Affairs (2006)
➢ Civil Aviation Agreement (2008)
➢ Agreement in the Field of Nuclear Fusion Energy Research (2009)
➢ Joint Declaration on Culture (2010)
➢ Joint Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation in Energy (2012)
Maritime Cooperation:
❖ Maritime security is a key focus in India-EU cooperation, underscored by the 2005
Joint Action Plan. Both entities prioritize freedom of navigation, combatting maritime
piracy, and upholding UNCLOS. They emphasize the blue economy and maritime
infrastructure, with a shared interest in the Indo-Pacific.
❖ In January 2021, the first virtual Maritime security dialogue occurred. Notably, the
threat of drugs from Afghanistan impacting Europe aligns with India's security
concerns in Afghanistan, creating vital intersections with Europe's interests.
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❖ India’s increasing salience in the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean, and especially in the
security of the Gulf, the source of much of Europe’s energy, suggests another area of
cooperation.
Point of Divergences in the Relationship:
❖ Trade barriers like protectionist policies.

❖ Disagreement over IPRs.

❖ Differences in regulatory framework and standards.

❖ Difference of options on the issue of Human Rights and Democratic values.

❖ China is a significant trade partner of the EU, and the regions have direct land
connectivity, increasing their stakes in a strong relationship. On the other hand, India
has its own security concerns with China, making it difficult for India -the EU to be
on the same page while dealing with China.

❖ The fear which India has in its mind regarding China is the same as with the EU with
regard to Russia. Russia is a major security concern for Europe, and an arch-rival of
the United States, while Russia is an old strategic ally of India and an important
partner in securing its energy security.

❖ Indians have an allergy to being lectured to, and one of the great failings in the India-
EU partnership has been the tendency of Europe to preach to India on matters it
considers itself quite competent to handle on its own.

Approach of EU towards India:

❖ The EU's recent India strategy paper acknowledges several key points:

➢ India is a global growth engine (fastest growing among emerging economies).

➢ India is also a huge market and hence huge scope for job creation in Europe.

➢ EU has balanced trade with India. Bilateral trade has gone up to Euro 115 billion
in 2017.

➢ India is Europe’s partner in Paris Agreement.

➢ India and the EU have overlapping interests in regional security and stability.

➢ There is a huge compatibility of interest in fighting against terrorism, in the field of

cyber security, huge scope in working for disarmament, achievement of SDG 2030.
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INDIA-EU Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA):

❖ It is a Free Trade Agreement between India and EU, which was initiated in 2007. Even

after a decade of negotiations, India and EU have failed to resolve certain issues which

have led to a deadlock. Major reasons for the deadlock are summarised in the table

given below:-

❖ India-EU FTA negotiations restarted in July 2022. Both the sides are aiming to

conclude the negotiations by 2024.

❖ Harsh V. Pant says that the conclusion of this agreement will be important not only

for India’s further integration into the global economy but also to a give a boost to

India-EU ties, which have failed to achieve their full potential.

Concluding Remarks:

❖ Despite the strategic partnership established in 2004, India-EU relations currently

lack substantial strategic weight. The EU needs time to develop a common strategic

culture for meaningful cooperation with India.

❖ Trade disputes exist, but overall friendly relations persist. India acknowledges the EU's

desire for a larger political role and engages in political dialogue to address

misperceptions and enhance understanding. Both India and the EU have gained

importance on the global stage, aligning with the evolving dynamics of world affairs.
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India -West Asia

Introduction-
❖ West Asia has been a grand theatre of International Politics-since the end of WW-II,
because of its location and also hydrocarbon reserves. It has also been the most troubled
region and politically volatile region because of following factors-

➢ superpower rivalry

➢ shia-sunni conflict

➢ Israeli-Palestinian conflict

➢ Kurds issue

➢ Gulf War I and II

➢ Arab spring, 2011 that originated in Tunisia and spread like a wildfire to other
countries of gulf and Northern Africa This is also known as the beginning of 4th
wave of democracy by scholars.

India-West Asia relations in 21st century-

❖ India's relation with West Asia witnessed significant changes after the end of cold war
and more specifically in 21st century. The relationship witnessed qualitative
improvement in 21st century because of following seasons -

➢ presence of 7 million strong Indian diaspora, which is a huge source of remittances

for India

➢ West Asia is the principal source of hydrocarbons for India.

➢ Important gulf nations have also started engaging themselves with India because
they also want to diversify their foreign policy options.

➢ Retreat of USA from West Asia especially energy sector of West Asia post- discovery
of shale oil and gas.

➢ Some of the West Asian countries are sitting on huge forex reserve. They want to
invest this reserve into attractive places like-India.

➢ Indian Foreign Policy- came out with more comprehensive foreign policy to deal
with West Asia. India does not look at West Asia (WA) mainly from the angle of oil
and Indian diaspora anymore.
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Note - During CW period, India did not follow a comprehensive set of strategies in dealing
with WA. In the past, India always used to look at WA from the prism of oil and Indian
diaspora. India always thought that India's relation with WA countries is standing on its
own plane and India is not into competing relation with any other country.

❖ Another important region for change in India's foreign policy with respect to WA was
the churning through which Arab states went through after Arab spring movement.

Major strands of India's WA policy-

❖ Presence of hydrocarbon and India's need for energy security.

❖ poll-turbulence in the region especially after Gulf War II and Arab spring - Rise of ISIS,

❖ Existing geopolitical scenario in the region which includes - Iran- Saudi Arabia rivalry,
Iran- Israel rivalry, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Difference in India's Look East Policy (LEP) and Look West policy (LWP)-

❖ India's LWP has been materially far more successful than LEP. India's LEP is yet to
cross $100 bn but India's trade with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also has crossed
$250 bn.

❖ India's investment from ASEAN since 2000 has been $69 bn. Saudi Arabia alone is
going to invest more than $100 bn in the Indian economy in the next 5 years. Saudi
ARAMCO has made India’s biggest ever investment in reliance petrochemicals-$15bn.
But unfortunately India's LEP has always gained more media coverage, made more
news and given more importance than LWP because Indian foreign policy working
under idealist paradigm thought that they share civilisational link with WA and are
not into competing RELATION with other countries like - China over West Asia

Reasons for less than optimal performance in WA -

❖ Political instability in WA makes it one of the most polarised and volatile regions of the
world.

❖ WA does not have a pan-regional organisation like -EU or African Union (AU) Hence,
there is limited scope of institutional relations.

❖ New Delhi's policy with respect to the region has focussed only on oil and diaspora.
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Concerns for India in WA:

❖ Increasing Chinese presence in the region.
❖ Retreat of USA from WA has created void in the region.
❖ Protection of important sea lanes of communication.
❖ For anti-piracy operations.
❖ Spill over effect of radicalisation of WA societies in India especially after the rise of
Islamic state (IS).
INDIA'S LOOK WEST POLICY:
❖ It was announced by former PM Manmohan Singh at a meeting with the members of
GCC in 2004.
❖ Present PM, Narendra Modi has announced 'Link West Policy'. The focus of this policy
will be on 22 members of the Arab League.
❖ An important aspect of India's LWP has been to strengthen partnership with members
of GCC countries and improve ties with Iran, Israel and countries of North Africa.

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