The India and European Union agreed on Monday at the ninth Indo-EU summit at Marseille to expand mutual cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and environmental protection, and intensify their strategic partnership.
Addressing a joint press conference at the end of the summit, the Prime Minister expressed the confidence that bilateral relations will grow and diversify with each passing day and said “the India-EU strategic partnership contributes to global peace, prosperity and stability.”
The partnership between the two India and EU is based on shared values and commitment to democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and pluralism is an important pillar of the emerging international order.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also decided to be finalised in the field of education and culture.
“India's annual bilateral trade with the European Union would reach 100 Billion euros in next five years," the PM said, adding that “the Trade and Investment Agreement between the two will be concluded by the end of this year.”
India and EU also reviewed the 2006 Joint Action Plan and agreed to add several new areas of cooperation in the field of vocational training, post-harvest technologies, exploitation of solar energy in India and civil nuclear research and development including in fusion energy.
“We discussed various issues related to counter terrorism, current international financial crisis, energy and food security, climate change comprising cooperation between Europol and counterpart organisations in India,” said the Prime Minister.
The Joint Working Programme on energy, clean development and climate change was launched. This will facilitate the India and EU to collaborate in clean coal technologies, energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and financing and transfer of climate friendly technologies.
The Horizontal Civil Aviation Agreement between India and the EU was also signed. The India and EU also decided to launch a European Business and Technology Center in India, which shall support business-to-business and research co-operation between the EU and India.
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