16 January 2025 : Daily Answer Writing

Q1) “Despite the promise of a robust collaboration, India and the European Union (EU) continue to fall short of realizing their full potential of their strategic partnership”. Critically analyse. (150 Words/10 Marks)

ANSWER:

Following the launch of the EU-India Strategic Partnership in 2004, the Joint Action Plan in 2005 and the start of negotiations on a Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) in 2007, much enthusiasm was expressed on both sides. However, the relationship has lost momentum.

 

Potential of India-EU bilateral relationship can be seen through following points:

1. Convergence of strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region and deal with a belligerent China. E.g., ‘connectivity partnership’ between India and EU for sustainable infrastructure development projects, EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-pacific.

2. India and EU are significant trading partners having substantial potential; A comprehensive trade agreement could unlock further opportunities.

3. India–EU cooperation in green technology can help India achieve its target under the Paris Climate Agreement through transfer of technology and FDI in the sector.

4. India and EU have complementary demographics; Service-sector can be a mutually beneficial sector for growth, including tourism, education etc.

5. Values like democracy, human rights, environment protection, pluralism etc. can be the basis for better people-to-people ties and inter-governmental cooperation.

6. Collaboration on mutually common interests like – counterterrorism; energy security; digital infrastructure etc.

 

However, the relationship continues to fall short of realizing its full potential:

1. The Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) between India and EU remains pending since 2007. Blocked by issues such as – tariff barriers; intellectual property regime; dispute settlement mechanism for investments; data secure status etc.

2. EU has significant economic ties with China, which sometimes puts it at odds with India’s strategic interests.

3. Both have different assessments of strategic challenges – e.g., EU wants India to be vocal on Russia-Ukraine crisis and upset with India buying oil from Russia on the other hand, EU’s silence on cross-border terrorism by Pakistan irks India.

4. There is historical divide between India and the West, including western Europe, due to cold war bloc politics. E.g., divergence between India’s views and the western consensus over Ukraine crisis.

5. Climate-cooperation has been undermined due to varying views on principles like Common-But-Differentiated Responsibility such as on India’s emphasis on phasedown approach for Coal instead of phase out.

 

For more such UPSC related Mains Answer Writing, Check Out 15 Januray 2025 : Daily Answer Writing