On the 15th July, the 15th India – EU Summit took place virtually via video conference. The Summit was co-chaired by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In their Joint Statement, the leaders reiterate their commitment toward strategic partnership based on “shared principles and values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, and respect for human rights, aiming at delivering concrete benefits for the people in the EU and India.”
Both India and the EU agreed that the India-EU relation is full of untapped potential. They have agreed upon greater bilateral cooperation in and issued the “EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” containing 118 areas of cooperation in trade, investment, Information and communications technology, Human rights, and many others. Some of the major highlights from the Summit are:
- Jointly support global efforts to tackle climate change,
- Mutual synergies and cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals,
- Organising an EU-India Aviation Summit to enhance the EU-India relationship in civil aviation,
- Establish a High-Level Dialogue at the ministerial level to provide political guidance to the bilateral trade and investment relation,
- Strengthen mutual engagement to enhance market access, particularly for Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),
- India and the EU will continue to strengthen their existing business associations/chambers in Europe and India,
- A mandate for an international chemical and waste management framework beyond 2020, for consideration at the fifth International Conference on Chemical Management in Bonn in 2021,
- Strengthen the EU – India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership focusing on cooperation in energy efficiency and in renewable energy,
- Further implement the Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation (smart and sustainable cities) and promoting investments in sustainable urbanisation,
- Developing effective solid waste management & treatment and promotion of circular economy, developing effective water supply & sewage system and innovation in housing.
Official Joint Statement: Link
EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025: Link