Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Brussels today, ahead of the 11th European Union (EU)-India summit on Friday. The summit will be the first one to be held since the Lisbon Treaty came into effect. The Lisbon Treaty was a series of changes to the European Union’s rule book, meant in part to enhance the bloc’s foreign policy and global strategic heft.
As a result, EU is keen to leverage the summit as a means of broadening its relationship with India beyond the largely one-dimensional economic focus it has thus far had. Although the ongoing India-EU free trade negotiations continue to be the cornerstone of ties, talks between Singh and his counterparts, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, will thus focus on a range of bilateral and regional issues of strategic relevance.
Cooperation in combating terrorism will be in the spotlight, with a pact on international terrorism likely to be signed on Friday. According to EU sources, the agreement will have chapters on cooperation between police authorities, cyber security and border security, amongst related issues.
Afghanistan, where several EU member-states have troops as part of the NATO operations there, and Pakistan will be the two key countries that will figure in Friday’s talks pertaining to regional issues. An official in Van Rompuy’s cabinet made it clear that Kashmir would not be raised during the talks. Instead, EU will emphasise that a stable Pakistan is in both India and Europe’s interests.
India’s support for a trade waiver for Pakistan that EU is currently seeking at the World Trade Organization (WTO) may also be sought. In October, the European Commission had outlined proposals to unilaterally suspend duties on a range of Pakistani imports into EU for a period of three years. The Indian ambassador to WTO has apparently raised objections to the move. India’s consent as a WTO member is necessary for the proposal to be implemented.
Global issues such as non-proliferation and climate change are also on the agenda.
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On the economic front, Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht will present a status report on the ongoing free trade talks. An EU source said the report would signal that talks had made excellent progress and should be wrapped up by early next year. An announcement to the resolution of the generic drug seizure dispute that has been ongoing since 2008 will also likely be announced with EU agreeing to amend a key customs regulation.
On Friday afternoon, Singh will meet the acting prime minister of Belgium, Yves Leterme, before heading for Germany the next day.
In Berlin, the Prime Minister will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The visit comes at a time when the Germans have been displaying keen interest on defence deals, offering India multi-role combat aircraft, light helicopters and submarines. It’s expected that the two sides will also discuss strategies for reform of the United Nations permanent security council.