Asserting that India and Europe are both victims of terrorism, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault today said this challenge can only be met by jointly cooperating in the monitoring of terrorist groups and fighting against terror financing networks.
He also said the EU and India are united by shared values and share a vision of international relations based on multilateralism and dialogue, rather than a power struggle.
Delivering R K Mishra Lecture on "The European Union, an Indispensable Actor in an Uncertain World", Ayrault said, "It is together that we will respond to the threat of international terrorism. India and Europe are both victims of terrorism, precisely because of what brings them together and what terrorists aim to weaken: democracy and freedom.
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"We can only meet this challenge jointly, by cooperating more closely in the monitoring of terrorist groups, in the fight against radicalisation or against terrorism financing networks, while respecting the fundamental values that we have in common, but are unfortunately not common to all."
Terming European Union as a "reliable" partner of India, the minister said this is so particularly in the Indian Ocean, where the Union is conducting Operation Atalante against piracy by drawing on the naval capabilities deployed by its Member States, foremost among which is France.
"This operation has considerably reduced this scourge and reinforced the security of strategic sea lanes for the international community in general and for India in particular.
"A fruitful collaboration towards this has been initiated with the Indian Navy. Other cooperation can be envisaged. Peacekeeping operations in Africa, for example, comes to mind, where India as well as Europe are particularly active."
In this context, he also mentioned Afghanistan, where India and the EU play a vital role in reconstruction, development and stability.
Talking about trade ties, Ayrault said the European Union is India's foremost trade partner and one of the top investors in India.
With a single market of 500 million persons, the EU offers Indian companies unmatched economic opportunities, he said, adding, "I invite Indian companies to choose France so as to access this market".
The EU's investment capacities are a resource for financing programmes India has launched for its own modernisation and economic development and they can strengthen cooperation in these areas.
"I would like to acknowledge the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an International Solar Alliance, which we were able to launch together in Paris on the margins of the COP21 and which will tomorrow contribute to developing solar energy everywhere in the world," he added.
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