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Ukraine, Russia-China 'No Limit' Pact Opens Doors for India-EU Convergence

April 26, 2022

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on April 25, 2022 hindustan times

 

Partnership with India a priority for coming decade: European Commission chief

Hindustan Times, April 26, 2022

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is on a two-day visit to India that started on Sunday. She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who is on a visit to India, said on Monday for the strengthening and energising of the European Union (EU), its partnership with New Delhi is a priority for the coming decade. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2022 in the national capital, der Leyen said, “Both our economies thrive in a world of common rules and fair competition.”

“Every five years when Indians cast their vote in parliamentary elections, the world watches with admiration as the world's largest democracy charts its future path because the outcome of decisions made by 1.3 billion people resonates around the globe,” der Leyen said at the beginning of her address.

"As vibrant democracies, India and the EU share fundamental values and common interests. Together, we believe in each country's right to determine its own destiny; we believe in rule of law and fundamental rights; we believe that it is democracy that best delivers for citizens," she added.

The European Commission president also pointed out that democracy was born in Europe more than 2,000 years ago, but today India is its largest home.

“Both our economies thrive in the world of common rules and fair competition. And we share the same interests in safe trading routes, seamless supply chains and in a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said.

On the ongoing war in Ukraine, she said that Europe will make sure that unprovoked-unjustified aggression against Kyiv will be a strategic failure and that Europe is doing all it can to help the war-ravaged country fight for its freedom.

"In Europe, we see Russia's aggression as a direct threat to our security," she said and highlighted that effective sanctions were imposed on Russia.

“The images coming from Russia's attack on Ukraine have shocked and are shocking the whole world. Two weeks ago, I visited Bucha-the suburb of Kyiv which was devastated by Russian troops as they withdrew from the north of Ukraine,” she added.

The European Commission president is on a two-day visit to India that started on Sunday. She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

"Delighted to hold talks with President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen earlier today. We reviewed the full range of India-EU ties including economic and cultural linkages," Modi tweeted earlier on Monday.

Both Modi and der Leyen also spoke on the current situation in Ukraine

During this discussion, it was decided that India and the European Union are set to the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, a strategic coordination mechanism to tackle challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security.

Partnership with India a priority for coming decade: European Commission chief | Latest News India - Hindustan Times

“Can do so much by joining forces,” says EU chief on her India visit

Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to India comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its third month on Sunday. Before her visit, the EU had said that she will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss the Ukraine crisis with India.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday said that India and the European Union have a lot in common and “can do so much together by joining forces” during her maiden visit to India. “I think there's a lot of untapped potential between the European Union and India, we have a lot in common. We can do so much together by joining forces for the benefit of our people, climate and planet,” the EU chief was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Von der Leyen will be meeting President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit. “We also have innovation in common. I've seen your goals to have 50 per cent energy from renewables in 2030. I'm deeply convinced that our world will take the right direction in cutting emissions,” she added.

Her statement comes as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said earlier this week that India is one of the six countries to have fulfilled most of the commitments made at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015 and remains committed to fulfilling its renewable energy targets. 

“We share the idea that we really have to look into solar energy, wind energy, biomass, hydropower... geothermal. These are the ingredients for the success of the economy, betterment of people & of course protection of our climate,” the EU chief said as PM Modi inaugurated a 500 KW solar power plant in Jammu and Kashmir’s Palli.

Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to India comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its third month on Sunday. Before her visit, the EU had said that she will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss the Ukraine crisis with India with a clear message about the “need to stop this aggression now”.

While India has abstained from all Ukraine-related votes at the United Nations that condemned Russian aggression, while emphasising the importance of the UN charter, international law and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.

India has also emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy on several occasions.

“Can do so much by joining forces,” says EU chief on her India visit | Latest News India - Hindustan Times

Ukraine, Russia-China ‘no limit’ pact opens doors for India-EU convergence

India and the US are also working on a similar trade and technology council on the lines EU has now set up with India and has with Washington. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday.  Published on Apr 26, 2022 08:53 AM IST ByShishir Gupta

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and its “no limits” partnership with Communist China has pushed the gas pedal on India-EU relationship with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen providing impetus for a high-power trade and technology council on the lines that EU has with US. The council was set up within a week of the idea being proposed by both sides with President Leyen making an extra effort to come to India after repeated postponements.

With the EU having a trade and technology council with US and now with India, it is only a matter of time that India and US will finally be able to close negotiations and set up a similar trade and technology council. This means that there will be political and strategic convergence between India, EU and US on economy, trade, and technology with direct impact on security and climate change.

EU red flags to India 'no limits' Russia-China friendship; Warns of Ukraine impact in Indo-Pacific European commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen has flagged the 'no-limits' Russia-China friendship. In her address at the Raisina Dialogue in the presence of PM Modi, the visiting leader said what happens In Ukraine will have an impact on the indo-pacific region and wondered about the "new international relations" that both China and Russia have called for after announcing their.

That both India and EU have decided to fast-track its relationship is evident from the fact that President Leyen agreed with PM Modi on his lasting peace formulation on the on-going Ukraine conflict with immediate cessation of violence. There was also praise for PM Modi’s initiative to make India energy independent in the 100th year of independence with an ambitious 50 per cent cut back on fossil fuel. In this direction, India and the EU will be collaborating on green hydrogen and renewable energy technologies.

While the newly set-up India-EU trade and technology council with India’s Foreign, Information Technology and Commerce Ministers and two EU executive vice presidents as co-chairs is expected to meet later this summer, the India-EU free trade agreement negotiations have already begun with renewed energy after Leyen visit.

The Leyen visit was important as the India-EU relationship could not pick up the required pace with the latter more focused on the trade pact with Communist China. It is only after the Chinese belligerence in the Indo-Pacific and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Europe that the EU has started looking at India as a viable alternative for global supply chains and as a technology partner. It is the no limits partnership between Russia and China and the brutal bombing of Ukraine that has made EU expand the democratic alliance with India with US as the other major partner.

Shishir Gupta is the author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel....view detail

Ukraine, Russia-China ‘no limit’ pact opens doors for India-EU convergence | Latest News India - Hindustan Times

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EU Chief Ursula Von Der Leyen Arrives In India On 2-Day Visit

During her India visit, European Commission President will meet President Ram Nath Kovind and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

All IndiaAsian News International, April 24, 2022 7:47 am IST

NDTV, New Delhi: 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in India for a two-day official visit on Sunday to strengthen India-EU strategic partnership. This will be her first visit to India as the President of the European Commission.

During her visit, European Commission President will meet President Ram Nath Kovind and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, the energy and digital transition, connectivity, security and defence, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific will be at the centre of her conversations in Delhi.

EU-India's broad economic agenda, with a focus on the free trade agreement, investment protection agreement and geographical indications agreement will also be on the agenda.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict will also feature in discussions.

During the visit, the President will visit The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) campus known as TERI Gram, where she will interact with the youth on the existential challenge of climate change and the need to work together for a green, digital and resilient future.

President von der Leyen will also deliver an address at the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and discuss with Indian and EU companies about the security of supply chains in the energy sector.

The President of the European Commission has been invited as the Chief Guest for this year's edition of Raisina Dialogue and will address the inaugural session on April 25.

"India and the European Union share a vibrant Strategic Partnership which has been witnessing strong growth with wider and deeper cooperation in Political and Strategic, Trade and Commerce, Climate and Sustainability, Digital and Technology aspects as well as people-to-people ties," the MEA statement read.

The India-EU Leaders' Meeting in May 2021 set new milestones with the decision to resume trade talks and the launch of the India-EU Connectivity Partnership.

In the last decade, EU-India trade in goods has increased by 41 per cent and trade in services has increased by 76 per cent. According to the official statement by the EU, trade between the two sides in goods and services in 2020 amounted to 96 billion euros.

The EU is one of the largest investors in India accounting for 16 per cent of total investments received between 2015-20 (Euro 83 billion in 2000-2021).

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There are 4,500 European companies operating in India, contributing to the creation of over 1.5 million direct and 5 million indirect jobs in the country.

Comments(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

EU Chief, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Arrives In India On 2-Day Visit (ndtv.com)

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EU chief Ursula von der Leyen begins India tour

DW, April 24, 2022

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in New Delhi for her first official visit. She is set to hold talks on climate change, trade and security.    

Ursula von der Leyen attended an event called 'Youth for a Greener future' in India

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in India on Sunday as part of a two-day visit aimed at strengthening European Union-India ties.

She has kick-started her tour with talks on energy issues and a visit to the Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, where she met young climate activists.

The European bloc is on the path to climate neutrality with the EU Green Deal, von Der Leyen said on Twitter after the talks.

"But Europe alone won't save our planet. It's a global effort, and we need to work with India. And we count on you, the young people, to keep fighting for the climate,” she tweeted.

Von der Leyen is also scheduled to address the International Solar Alliance, the European Commission said.

She will meet political and business representatives later in the evening.

On Monday, the EU chief will hold a bilateral dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The war in Ukraine is likely to be a key point of discussion during von der Leyen's visit, as India has not officially condemned the Russian invasion.

She will also meet India's President Ram Nath Kovind and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

"India and the European Union share a vibrant Strategic Partnership which has been witnessing strong growth with wider and deeper cooperation in Political and Strategic, Trade and Commerce, Climate and Sustainability, Digital and Technology aspects as well as people-to-people ties," India's External Affairs Ministry said in a statement ahead of von der Leyen's visit.

Trade, connectivity and security are also among the issues on the EU chief's New Delhi agenda.

Before leaving for New Delhi, von der Leyen praised EU-India relations.

Brussels and New Delhi have "built a solid friendship" over the last 60 years, and would like to take their cooperation "to the next level," she said on Twitter.

The visit is von Der Leyen's first official tour to India.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen begins India tour | News | DW | 24.04.2022

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