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Supported by Organised by SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL (DEEMED UNIVERSITY) SYMBIOSIS SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES and nd rd 2 and 3 December, 2017 | Pune, India

Transcript of SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL (DEEMED UNIVERSITY) and SYMBIOSIS … · Symbiosis International (Deemed...

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Supported by

Organised by

SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL (DEEMED UNIVERSITY)

SYMBIOSIS SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIESand

nd rd2 and 3 December, 2017 | Pune, India

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Published by:

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

SIU 2017. All rights reserved

Editors:

Ms. Shivali Lawale, Director SSIS

Mr. Rahul Ahmad, Independent Consultant (Content & Communication)

SSIS Rapporteur Team:

Sharon John (Head)

Shristi Singh

Maila Mrinalini

Nidhi Meppadan

Sosten Chimimba

Shreya Ekka

Farida Chawala

Saurabh Singh

Nandana Praveen

IRC’17

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Preface

India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Union (EU) in the

1960s. The relationship between India and the EU has grown since then. India and the EU share common

values like a commitment to democracy, pluralism, diversity, human rights and the rule of law, which

make them natural partners in ensuring peace and stability in the present world order. Given these

shared values and lasting historic ties, both India and the EU have much to gain from increasing their

engagement with one another and building a multi-faceted relationship.

The fifth edition of the IRC entitled 'India-EU: Enhancing Strategic Partnerships', brought together

professionals from India and the EU to discuss and recommend steps forward in the formulation of a

more interactive foreign policy towards this region that would further deepen cooperation in the political,

economic, cultural and security realms. The delegates and participants engaged in strategic discussions

covering various and far-reaching initiatives on issues of security, trade and investment, clean energy

and climate change mitigation and higher education and skill development.

Apart from specific recommendations for improving trade cooperation, enhancing investment flows in

both directions and broadening dialogue and engagement on global and regional issues, including

climate change, the deliberations also promoted our cultural and educational ties, which in turn will

create future prospects for research collaborations as well as student exchanges.

The delegates from both sides emphasised that, as part of the India-EU Agenda for Action 2020, there was

a need to work towards strengthening cooperation on higher-education through programmes like India's

GIAN programme and the EU's Erasmus+ programme. This was indeed a great takeaway, since at SIU we

are committed to explore complementarities and synergies for international institutional cooperation in

the field of higher education.

The conference concluded with H.E. Mr. Tomasz Kozlowski, Ambassador of the European Union to India

and Bhutan, looking forward to the Symbiosis School International Studies (SSIS) setting up a centre for

European studies. This endeavour would help ensure a continued engagement with one another and

encourage an exchange of ideas and best practices that would greatly help both students and researchers

in the field of India-EU studies.

Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar

Pro Chancellor

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

Principal Director, Symbiosis

Dr. Rajni Gupte

Vice Chancellor

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

IRC’17

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We would like to express our sincere thanks to Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Commerce and

Industry, Govt. of India, for inaugurating the conference and delivering the inaugural address, H.E. Mr.

Tomasz Kozlowski, Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan, Mr. Gitesh Sarma, Additional

Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and Prof. Furqan Qamar, Secretary General,

Association of Indian Universities, for accepting our invitation to speak at the inaugural session of the

International Relations Conference 2017.

As knowledge partners for the conference, we extend our thanks to the Europe West Division, Ministry of

External Affairs, Govt. of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan, for their

support and cooperation.

We would like to express our appreciation to all the distinguished speakers and guests who provided

valuable insights and rich contributions to the deliberations around the myriad aspects of relations

between India and the EU.

Ambassador (Retd.) Mr. Talmiz Ahmad

Ram Sathe Chair Professor for International Studies

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

Convenor, IRC 2017

IRC’17

Acknowledgements

Ms. Shivali Lawale

Director

Symbiosis School of International Studies

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

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Inaugural Session

Session IPartnerships for Security

Session IIExpanding Trade and Investment Ties

Session IIIPartnering for Clean Energy & Climate Change Mitigation

Session IVCooperation in Higher Education & Skill Development

Contents

07

21

35

45

55

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ADB The Asian Development Bank

BRI Belt-Road Initiative

BTIA Broad-based (Bilateral) Trade and Investment Agreement

CTBT Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty

EDA European Defence Agency

EEC European Economic Community

EIB European Investment Bank

ERASMUS European Community (EC) Action Scheme for the Mobility

of University Students

EU The European Union

FDI Foreign Direct Investment

FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry

FTA Free Trade Agreement

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GER Gross Enrolment Ratio

GHG Greenhouse Gas

GIZ German Corporation for International Cooperation

iMOVE Competence for International Cooperation in Vocational

Training and Education

IONS The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

IORA The Indian Ocean Rim Association

NPT Non-Proliferation Treaty

NSDC National Skill Development Corporation

NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group

RCEP Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

SAGAR Security and Growth for All in the Region

SLOCs Sea Lines of Communication

SMEs Small & Medium Enterprises

TPP Trans-Pacific Partnership

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

WB The World Bank

IRC’17

List of Acronyms

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Inaugural Session

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The European Union is an exemplary example of how several countries,

despite centuries of internal differences, have come together to achieve a

higher goal. The EU is the largest trading bloc in the world and consists of

various technologically-advanced countries, which have contributed

significantly towards the growth of agriculture and man-made practices.

Likewise, India is aspiring to realise its own goal of becoming an economy of

skill, soft power and diversity. India's $2.5 trillion economy is poised to

become $5 trillion over the next few years, making it the third largest

economy in the world.

The EU, with its liberal and democratic values, must partner with India, the

world's largest functioning democracy, to mutually develop and prosper. To

this effect, one must realise the true potential of the proposed India-EU free-

trade partnership.

Bilaterally, India has very good relations with several EU countries. The EU

must understand the sensitivities of India and the partnership must be

enhanced for mutual benefit. The two democratic parties must join hands to

bring in common prosperity to their regions and to the world. Prosperity has

to be social, economic, cultural, and political as well as environmental. If a

holistic focus isn't given to these issues, only some of them may be achieved.

Mr. Suresh PrabhuHon'ble Minister for Commerce and Industry

Govt. of India

IRC’17

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The Symbiosis International (Deemed University) is a university with a

difference. Since the 1970s, Pune has been the preferred destination for

foreign students to pursue their higher education. However, despite their

large numbers, foreign students barely interacted with their Indian

counterparts. Symbiosis was created to address this issue and soon led to the

establishment of a small cultural centre, which became a place of solace for

foreign students in the city.

The vision for Symbiosis started primarily with an interest in the welfare of

international students studying in Pune. Symbiosis aimed to bring together

foreign and Indian students to develop a symbiotic and international

understanding, and towards this goal, education is perhaps the best medium.

Since 2002, after becoming a deemed university, Symbiosis has sought to

uphold the motto of Udhara Charitanam Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which

means only noble, broad minds can unite this world as one big family.

Along with economic and political convergence, educational cooperation

also needs to be highlighted in India-EU relations. Education, specifically

quality education, will go a long way in uniting the world as one family.

Dr. S. B. MujumdarFounder and Chancellor

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

(Awarded Padma Bhushan and

Padma Shri by President of India)

IRC’17

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Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar Pro Chancellor

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

Principal Director, Symbiosis

The School of International Studies is one of the youngest and most

prominent schools within the Symbiosis family. Established in 2013, its

vision was to expand the scope of International Relations and its policy

deliberations in Pune. The school symbolises the international nature of the

Symbiosis institution, which receives various students from the European

Union for short term courses.

Approximately 200 students have been studying in the EU via the semester

exchange program, through summer schools and short term programs and

over 100 EU students have come to study at Symbiosis. Symbiosis also

collaborates with over 56 foreign partner universities, of which 29 are

European and it is also an active participant of the Erasmus Mundus student

program. These active collaborations have encouraged the establishment of

a European Studies centre under the School of International Studies.

Towards this goal, Pune is an ideal location as it is the knowledge capital of

the country with a large academia base, but more importantly, it is a large

European corporate base.

IRC’17

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IRC’17

The Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS) offers students a

dynamic educational environment and a state of the art curriculum,

comparable to similar institutes across the globe. It is indeed a proud moment

and a privilege to affirm our readiness to partner with and establish a

European Studies Centre at the institute. Having commenced the student

program in 2016, SSIS now has a wonderful and diverse community – across

countries, states and disciplines – of nearly 70 students. This aspect fully

embodies the motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Ms. Shivali LawaleDirector

Symbiosis School of International Studies

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The International Relations Conference is the flagship program of the School

of International Studies. Currently in its fifth edition, the previous editions of

the conferences have yielded successful outcomes and positive insights on

important topics like India and Development Partnerships, India's Look East

and Act East Policy, India and West Asia and India and the Indian Ocean.

There is an atmosphere of uncertainty in different parts of the world,

including Europe and it is in the midst of these times that Europe now looks

towards India as a valuable partner. Having carved out its own space

internationally, India now has the ability to break the confines of the old

imperialist order based on its resilient democracy, multicultural order,

economic achievements and technological progress and is indeed today

solicited as a partner.

Towards this goal, this conference will help bring in fresh ideas to reshape

and rediscover relations based on mutual respect and advantage. It is on the

basis of these ideas and visions that concrete steps can be taken to move

forward.

Further, apart from successful points of convergence such as trade,

technology and education, there needs to be dynamic cooperation in the

frontier area of security as well. Climate change has also emerged as a very

important point of camaraderie and consent between the two parties

Finally, geopolitically, there are vast areas in the east and west of both the

regions where cooperation is possible. As a result, this conference is a

pioneering venture, which seeks to give substance to India-EU ties.

Amb. (Retd.) Talmiz AhmadFormer Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE

Ram Sathe Chair Professor for International Studies

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

IRC’17

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IRC’17

The India-EU summit in October 2017 gave a long-term strategic and result-

oriented perspective to the partnership. A substantial common agenda for

bilateral cooperation, mutual sustainable growth and modernisation was

agreed upon. India is among the EU's oldest partners. This partnership has

achieved a new dimension not only because of India's impressive growth and

accelerated development but also because of rapid globalisation and the

emergence of new global uncertainties. As a result, India and the EU realise

the need for proactive, innovative and cooperative approaches to overcome

challenges and to tap into opportunities.

During the last summit, it was jointly declared that India and the EU are

'natural partners'. As natural partners, sharing the same principles and

values of democracy, freedom, rule of law and respect for human rights,

cooperation will help to make the world safer, more prosperous and

sustainable. Further, the leaders also declared that India and the EU have

common responsibilities to secure peace and stability in the world. Such

phrases reflect the changing dimensions in the partnership. These aren't just

mere slogans but real, foundational values for partnership. The question now

is how can we utilise existing opportunities in different sectors for the

betterment of India-EU relations?

To this effect, the first issue of prime importance in the evolving geo-political

scenario is security. The EU now considers itself more than just an economic

bloc and realises the need to develop and enhance its security cooperation to

become a relevant security provider. The new security environment requires

the alignment of India and the EU's position on several practical policy

measures. On the issue of counter terrorism, the EU has decided to join forces

and has agreed that cooperation between specialised agencies is

advantageous. On maritime security cooperation, the EU naval force recently

conducted its first ever joint exercise with the Indian Navy.

H.E. Mr. Tomasz KozlowskiAmbassador of the Delegation of the EU to India and Bhutan

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The second sector of cooperation involves trade and investment ties that

already enjoy a vibrant relationship. The EU is one of the largest foreign

investors in India with a stock of more than 60 billion euros. More than 6000

European companies in India provide employment directly or indirectly to

more than 6 million Indians and their investments are linked to the transfer

of technology. Further, the EU is in the process of negotiating the EU-India

Broad-based (Bilateral) Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), which will

possibly culminate in a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement.

The third sector of cooperation is climate change. Despite international

differences, it is heartening to note that both India and the EU have

reaffirmed their full commitment to implement the Paris Agreement. The

India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Change partnership has developed and

encouraged various clean energy projects. In this context, the EU has also

committed to contribute funds and transfer financial resources to developing

countries to help them better cope with climate change mitigation.

Consequently, in 2017, the European Investment Bank signed loan credit

agreements worth 1.7 billion euros.

The fourth sector is related to research and innovation. India has a number of

world-class research institutions in various fields. In the EU framework

programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020, the EU is

collaborating with Indian researchers on new options and projects related to

health, new technology, water management etc. Recently, a water research

and innovation project worth 30 million euros was launched in partnership

with the Indian government.

To fully consolidate this partnership, India and the EU need to broaden their

base of cooperation. Hence, people to people contact is extremely important.

Over the last few years, Indian applicants under the Erasmus Plus program

have successfully increased - with more than 300 students enrolling from

Pune itself. However, for further enhanced cooperation, experts on

contemporary EU and India affairs need to emerge from both sides.

Towards this goal, the vision of a European Studies Centre in Symbiosis is a

welcome development and is in the interest of both sides. Therefore, the

India-EU engagement is not only important for mutual benefit but is also

crucial to the world at large. Together, India and the EU can work for

sustainable development and to safeguard the global commons for future

generations. As a friend, ally and natural partner, the EU looks forward to

developing this cooperation.

IRC’17

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From the perspective of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), conferences

such as this are very important as they help foreign policy to be internalized

and be regarded as important. One must realise that in a globalised world,

nations cannot succeed in isolation. Actions and policies of each nation, even

when they have a strong domestic interest, are most likely to impact other

countries as well. Therefore, to pursue national development goals, one needs

to look outwards through focused bilateral, regional and multilateral

engagements. It is in this perspective that India greatly values its multi-

faceted strategic partnership with the EU.

India was among the first countries to establish contact with the European

Economic Community in 1962 and has been a strategic partner since 2004

with engagements evolving through regular summits, ministerial and

expert-level meetings, on a broad range of issues and regular parliamentary

exchanges. So far there have been 14 India-EU summits with each one

helping the relationship gain further momentum.

Currently, the EU is the world's largest exporter and importer of goods with

13.62% of the world's trade. With the introduction of GST, India too can be

considered as one of the world's largest common markets. Thus, there is a

strong case for a deepened partnership. Moreover, the EU has been India's

largest trade partner for a long time with bilateral trade in goods standing at

88 billion dollars in 2016. The EU is also one of India's largest sources of FDI

and cutting-edge technology.

As natural partners, India and the EU share a common commitment towards

democracy, a vision of a multipolar, rules-based international order, global

peace and stability and inclusive and sustainable growth globally.

During the 14th India-EU summit, the two parties made great strides in

deepening their existing strategic partnership and enhancing collaboration

in priority areas.

Mr Gitesh SarmaAdditional Secretary (Pol), Ministry of External Affairs

Govt. of India

IRC’17

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The engagement has now expanded into a range of policy areas, including

energy and climate change, environment, research and innovation,

pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, migration, ICT, competition policy, macro-

economic issues, sustainable development and education. This multi-

faceted partnership approach is also reflected in the length and depth of

India-EU contact at a number of forums at various levels.

Dialogue mechanisms on foreign policy and security measures, including

counter terrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation, also need a

joint approach and cannot be dealt with unilaterally. There is also a strong

push towards the development of Indian smart cities and urban

infrastructure with help from the European Investment Bank.

People to people contacts have been another important component of the

partnership. It is significant to note that the India-EU Horizontal Civil

Aviation agreement, which has now been operationalized, will further

enhance air connectivity between the two regions. With the strong pace of

economic growth in India there are great opportunities for further enhanced

engagement and fruitful cooperation.

IRC’17

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IRC’17

Prof. Furqan QamarSecretary General, Association of Indian Universities

Despite the significant movement of people between the two regions, in 2014,

there were only three main Indian universities partnering with the EU in the

field of higher education and research. This resulted in serious deliberations

on the steps needed to enhance this partnership. As a result, the Association

of Indian Universities (AIU) has been publishing data on the international

mobility of students coming to India and has been involved in formulating

policy suggestions. The AIU has also expanded its knowledge base on various

educational schemes and policies of the EU on higher education.

Through this process it was noted that in the globalised era, educational

markets are predominantly of two types: the first involves countries in the

post-massification process where, despite excellent infrastructure, they

need students from foreign countries due to a low demographic dividend in

the country; the second involves countries coping with infrastructure

deficiencies and which require foreign assistance.

However, in comparison to these basic approaches, the EU's policy of

educational cooperation is an enlightened one. Its approach involves

developing a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes universities to

cooperate and find solutions to large challenges. It is this realisation that has

boosted the India-EU higher educational cooperation. Under the Erasmus+

scheme the number of Indian institutions partnering with the EU has

increased to 102. Moreover, under the international credit mobility scheme,

over 1000 Indian students have gone to Europe and over 600 European

students have come to Indian campuses for short duration visits.

Thus, both regions stand to mutually benefit through this cooperation. With

the introduction of modern higher education in India being based on the

model emanating from Europe, the EU's strategies and policies for

educational cooperation will help rejuvenate the flow of human resources.

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Dr. Rajni GupteVice Chancellor

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

The success of the first four editions of the International Relations

Conference (IRC), which were held from 2013 to 2016, is a reflection of the

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)'s endeavour to engage with

various stakeholders across the globe. The conferences provided an

excellent platform to network and build relationships that will take the

university’s objective of internationalization forward. The IRC 2017 titled

'India-EU: Enhancing Strategic Partnerships' has received high-level

participation from India and the EU.

The recommendations from this conference will promote our cultural and

educational ties and will create future prospects for research collaborations

as well as student exchanges.

IRC’17

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IRC’17

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Session IPartnerships for Security

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Described as natural partners by the European Commission President Jean

Claude Juncker at the 14th Summit held in New Delhi in October 2017, India-

EU relations have witnessed greater convergence on geo-political issues

with a focus on the priority areas of India's concern.

The separate statements on counter-terrorism, the joint statements

highlighting principles upheld by India in regional connectivity projects and

a special focus on renewable energy programmes, have all been welcome

developments garnered from the summit.

The fact that India remains a choice partner for security dialogues and for its

increasing contribution to global growth, entrepreneurial talent, adherence

to international law, national ambitions and aspirations compatible with

Europe's values and perspectives, revives an opportunity to meaningfully

engage with Europe as a collective, which has been a missing chunk in India's

global engagement.

However, real cooperation in the areas of maritime security, counter

terrorism, cyber and energy security can only develop if the same priorities

are shared and have a convergence with regard to their threat perceptions.

Even more crucial is the readiness on both sides to share vital intelligence,

capabilities and competencies.

Experiences in the past have shown that strategic cooperation in the India-

EU partnership has remained negligible despite the contemporary relevance

of challenges and opportunities. The EU has not been able to add a security

dimension to its strong economic clout. Due to lack of cohesion in European

institutions on security issues and a lack of collective will to reform global

institutions– which could give India its due place as a permanent member of

the Security Council, its membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

and an acknowledgment of the terrorist threat to India from Pakistan – the

impression that the EU adds little value to India to overcome its security

challenges gains ground.

Chair – Amb. (Retd.) Mrs. Neelam SabharwalFormer Ambassador to UNESCO

Cyprus and the Netherlands

The

changing

international

scenario

and geo-political

shifts in global

power are once

again bringing

the EU and

India closer

IRC’17

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Thus, the EU has been unable to raise its profile in New Delhi, added to which

is the perennial challenge of a unified EU still encumbered by the

independent personalities of its leading powers.

Consequently, India has had to approach individual European nations for

more forthright support on issues of its core interests. Today, the partnership

finds itself between the choice of further developing bilateral relations or

making a more determined effort towards convergence on critical issues

with the Union. It is important, however, that both sides work towards fruitful

engagement benefits.

Nevertheless, the changing international scenario and geo-political shifts in

global power are once again bringing the EU and India closer. With the rise of

religious extremism, terrorism, maritime threats, cyber,and energy security

and non-proliferation concerns, the EU and India are now beginning to

appreciate each other's importance as security partners.

The EU's presence as a globally acknowledged defender of rules-based

international order assumes greater importance since Trump's

unpredictable policies are weakening the US leadership in the multilateral

arena. Therefore, India and the EU are well positioned to collaborate on larger

security responsibilities in Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific. Both sides could

also have a common interest in ensuring that China's search for an equal

status with the US does not happen at their own expense.

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IRC’17

India and the EU have several potential points of convergence and the

possibility for joint cooperation on security issues. However, both parties

have been playing blame-games at international platforms on issues such as

climate change, trade, labour rights, regulation, terrorism, regional

cooperation and democratic human rights. For the past 10 to 15 years, both

sides have prioritised their own national interests, thereby diluting the

relationship. However, this has now begun to change with India and the EU

converging on issues such as climate change, terrorism, trade etc.

The major economic recession of 2009 questioned the European growth

model. It has made Europe think very differently about its 'bubble of

development', particularly high economic growth. Furthermore, Britain's exit

(BREXIT) from the EU has encumbered the EU's strategic role in the global

sphere. As a result, the EU now looks towards improving and restructuring

trade relations with the world, especially with Asian markets. Asia's

increasing economic and political clout has made Europe think beyond its

trans-Atlantic partnerships with the US. India, on the other hand, has

improved drastically and is now more self-confident than in the past,

prioritising quality economic growth over quantity. India has also been

building relationships with middle powers who partner with Europe,

including Japan, Australia and South-East Asian and African nations.

India and the EU need greater convergence to maximise their joint potential.

Both share a common neighbourhood, which encompasses the Gulf, Middle

East (from Istanbul to Pakistan) and from Moscow to Mauritius and the Indian

Ocean. They also share similar issues related to terrorism, thereby

highlighting the need for joint collaboration on counter terrorism and

intelligence sharing. Similarly, strategic connectivity is now of prime

importance with the shift in trade relations.

Rather

than passively

allowing the rise of

the US and China,

India and the EU

should aim for

a multipolar world

which will give

them more scope

to engage with

each other

Dr. Constantino XavierFellow, Carnegie India

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With China introducing the Belt-Road Initiative (BRI), which will increase

Europe's dependence on China, India also needs to examine this aspect

seriously. Rather than passively allowing the rise of the US and China, India

and the EU should aim for a multipolar world, which will give them more

scope to engage with each other. Such a multilateral, multipolar world will

also help global institutions set up common rules, set up principles to combat

terror and to ensure freedom of navigation and of the global commons. Thus,

only when the world's two largest democracies converge, can they rise up to

the challenge effectively by developing frameworks to converse, coordinate

and cooperate.

IRC’17

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IRC’17

India and the EU's interests converge in West Asia, which today is in turmoil

and in a state of serious conflict. For India, the stand-off between Saudi

Arabia and Iran is of enormous concern due to its energy security issues.

India receives about 80% of oil from this region, has substantial economic and

investment ties and also an Indian diaspora of 8 million people whose

security and welfare is of primary concern.

The unfortunate part of the West Asia conflict is that no nation or group of

nations have tried to play a role to initiate and pursue a peace process. The US

takes a position that only strengthens the conflict, while the EU, with its

recent uncertainties in both domestic and regional affairs, has been an

appendix of the US. However, it is the responsibility of the EU to stand against

these irresponsible and destructive policies of the US.

Further, more than just being termed “natural partners”, the India-EU joint

statement also specifies that the relation goes beyond a bilateral partnership

and is well placed to face regional challenges. Subsequently, religious

extremism, social media inspired lone-wolf attacks, piracy through water

channels, the Indian Ocean strategic region etc. are a matter of concern to

both sides. Hence, India and the EU must work together through decisions or

debate to resolve whether to look just at symptoms or to find out the actual

root cause of conflict in the West Asia region.

Similarly, interest in connectivity projects is another common point shared

by both parties with the EU now seeking to gain economically from China's

Belt-Road Initiative (BRI). In their joint statement, India and the EU have

stated that these connectivity projects should be based on the common

principles of good governance as well as being financially viable and

sustainable. With this in mind, India and the EU should work together within

the Gulf region to serve both their common and own interests.

India and the

EU should work

together within

the Gulf region

to serve both

their common

and own

interests.

Amb. (Retd.) Talmiz AhmadFormer Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE

Ram Sathe Chair Professor for International Studies

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

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There have been certain events that have strengthened relations between

India and the EU in the maritime domain. The first is the anti-piracy patrols

from 2008 as well as coordination and dialogue between both navies.

However, this is only the tip of the iceberg as there is tremendous potential for

India and the EU to cooperate at sea.

Both India and the EU have had very disparate narratives. The EU nations

have been major naval powers though India did pioneer sea sailing in its part

of the world and even provided many nautical skills to the world. India was at

the receiving end of the colonial powers that possessed naval capabilities

and later, was engrossed in landward military threats, which diminished its

naval development. Nevertheless, the process began to change with India's

economic reforms in the 1990s.

The promotion of the social and economic well-being of its people led to the

elevation of the relationship between human prosperity and human security,

under which comes maritime security. Yet, along with the military

component, there were other civilian components that were necessary. India

needed a ship building industry, trading infrastructure, cruise shipping,

tourism and fishing. This then led to a very clear definition of India's

maritime interests, detailed in the Indian maritime security strategy of 2015,

where the critical areas highlighted included protection of national

sovereignty, security against sea-based threats and the use of the maritime

medium to preserve national security.

India cannot really partner with the EU in a very substantive manner because

of its imperative of strategic autonomy. However, other interest areas such as

the security and safety of Indian citizens at sea and overseas, sea trade,

including Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and shipping nodes, marine

resources and offshore assets within and beyond MZI, marine and polar

scientific research, India's international commitments and a stable

geopolitical environment, are potential convergent points of cooperation

with the EU.

India cannot

really partner

with the EU

in a very

substantive

manner because

of its imperative

of strategic

autonomy

Captain (Dr.) Gurpreet KhuranaExecutive Director, National Maritime Foundation

IRC’17

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Within the geo-physical configuration of the Indian Ocean region, there are

various choke points where access remains restricted for India. Also, the

Indian Ocean has several mid-ocean island states. Furthermore, trade

amongst the Indian Ocean region countries is only 20%, which means that

80% of trade is from other countries including the EU. As this area is rich in

resources, it provides a lucrative market for its stakeholders.

Therefore, as the Indian Maritime strategy states, India has a great geo-

strategic location, a long cost line (7516 km), an extensive maritime zone and

strategic convergence with major powers like the EU through which it can

project its strategic value.

However, the island state syndrome is one of the problems faced by India

where it feels both geo-physically and geopolitically trapped due to barriers

in the north and west in terms of Pakistan and China, mountainous regions,

etc., which restricts its trade. Moreover, having such a huge geography also

enhances sea-based vulnerabilities and insecurities, as seen in the Mumbai

attacks.

Maritime piracy is another important issue for the EU since much of the EU's

trade comes through the Indian Ocean, while for India it is a security threat.

There are also issues of floating armouries and private maritime security

agencies. Drugs and arms smuggling, irregular migration, sea-borne civilian

evacuation etc. are other areas where India can cooperate on information-

sharing with the EU.

Finally, the emerging dynamics of maritime security has meant that at the

conceptual level, India has SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region)

while at the political level there is the IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association)

and at the functional level there is the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium)

to enhance India's naval capabilities.

IRC’17

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Terrorism is a domain which requires utmost cooperation. It will be the single

most crucial aspect which will determine how the India-EU relationship

evolves since it has been untouched by both parties over the recent years.

Terrorism knows no boundaries, has no colour and is seamless. The only way

to fight terrorism is by binding together and pooling resources though this is

something that countries have failed to do for a long time.

After Prime Minister Modi's visit and interaction with the EU in October 2017,

the relationship between the two parties took a new turn and a '10-point'

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, which not only led to

counter terrorism cooperation but also named certain organizations like

Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Harkat-e-Mujahedeen as deadly organizations.

Terrorism has other dimensions. It is not something that strikes only in the

homeland but also widens its scope. With the expansion of tourism and the

growth of technology it becomes even more ominous and deadly.

Terrorism has affected and impacted many European cities as seen with the

attacks in Brussels, Barcelona, London and Paris and greater cooperation and

coordination is required to tackle this issue. With political power coming into

the hands of Islamist forces, India will also face a lot of threats. There are other

aspects of this international linkage, which are the cells of Lashkar-e-Taiba

and how they are making several attempts to create further cells and networks

in Europe and the US. These cells are also targeting the Rohingyas to meet their

aims and have been partially successful as well. The House of Saud in Saudi

Arabia is said to be funding Wahhabi networks and Islamic radicals throughout

the world via various means. Europe has also come under pressure due to

refugees entering their borders and institutions with their own culture, religion

and language. Europe has, however, not been able to assimilate or absorb these

refugees and unfortunately this has led to the rise of homegrown terrorism.

Two areas where European assistance could be sought include 'cyber-tracking'

where the EU has lots of technical expertise as well as the shutting down of

various financial supply routes of terrorist groups. Countering terrorism

requires a joint and collective effort and the EU and India should not hesitate to

pool their resources before the list of casualties and the price that is paid

becomes too high.

Two areas

where European

assistance could

be sought include

'cyber-tracking' –

where the EU

has lots of

technical expertise

as well as the

shutting down of

the various financial

supply routes of

terrorist

groups

Mr. Jayadeva RanadeFormer Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat

Govt. of India

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IRC’17

The issue of non-proliferation has given the EU several misgivings about

India, which need to be overcome in order for cooperation to continue. The

India-EU partnership has not blossomed in the past for several reasons but

one important issue area has been the EU's own lack of focus on non-

proliferation before 1995. This lack of focus was due to divergent opinions as

the EU encompasses two nuclear states, countries that are hardcore nuclear

abolishers, countries under the nuclear umbrella and countries that are in

favour of nuclear energy and vice-versa. As a result, this divergence has led to

a lack of consensus within the EU with regard to non-proliferation.

However, after 1995, the EU changed its focus on NPT (Non-Proliferation

Treaty). When the review was being taken, the EU vouched for an indefinite

and unconditional extension of the Treaty. Although India was never against

the extension, it wanted the treaty to be conditional, in case of an emergency.

Furthermore, the EU lacked an understanding of India's security concerns,

especially after 1998, when the Indian nuclear tests were carried out. Apart

from sanctions from across the world, EU member states also provided

criticisms and sanctions on India.

Another area of divergence is the CTBT, which, according to the EU, cuts

down the possibility of horizontal nuclear proliferation. India was among the

first countries to ask for a Partial Test Ban Treaty and then for a

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as it looked at the CTBT as a measure

of disarmament rather than just non-proliferation, while the EU called for the

universality of the CTBT.

Similarly, the two blocs have divergent opinions on their approach towards

the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Also, India refuses to be equated with

Pakistan in the NSG when a few member countries came up with the idea of

accommodating both India and Pakistan.

The EU's

support in

accommodating

India into the

NSG and clearly

defining responsible

and irresponsible

nuclear states

would be a

good start for

the two

parties

Dr. Manpreet Sethi Senior Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies

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IRC’17

Today, there is a relative change in the situation post the India-EU strategic

partnership in 2004. Both blocs have been gradually improving the

partnership and understanding each other's position. The EU today is not

only part of the NPT and CTBT but also plays an active role in leading

negotiations successfully. The agreement with Iran was led by EU and due to

the absence of the US the EU is in a strong position to lead the non-

proliferation agenda.

After the exceptions given to India in 2008, India now has a greater level of

strength and comfort in engaging with nuclear issues, increasing the scope

for further cooperation. Both blocs have some common stands on issues such

as the effective implementation of the Iran deal, the US-North Korea stand-

off and concerns over terrorism, mainly nuclear terrorism and the

proliferation of nuclear arsenal.

Therefore, India and the EU can cooperate on nuclear security, strengthening

of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), nuclear safety through

joint research and the development and promotion of disarmament. The EU's

support in accommodating India into the NSG and clearly defining

responsible and irresponsible nuclear states would be a good start for both

sides

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IRC’17

There has been an immense contribution from the EU in international

cooperation, international development and maritime security. Over the last

20 years, the EU has made serious efforts to develop its foreign security

capacity. The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in 2007, and coming into effect in 2009,

was a major step in improving the EU's capacities and capabilities. Also, since

2003, the EU has developed a serious crisis management capability both in

the surveillance and military areas. Furthermore, the EU and India have

worked together in the field of universalization of the relevant non-

proliferation and disarmament treaties.

Both the EU and India recognize that after the 10th dialogue in August this

year there has been a lot of practical cooperation, including countering online

radicalization. The side statement delivered along with the joint statement in

October was more concrete. Both the parties have already engaged in

information exchange on the terrorists listed. With regard to maritime

security, the recent naval exercise was recognized along with the visits to the

operational headquarters of Operation Atlanta. There is hope for further

cooperation in this area and also in upgrading the counter piracy dialogue

into a full-fledged maritime security issue. As a result, EU-India relations

have considerable scope to improve in the case of maritime security and the

EU looks at India as a valuable asset to the international community.

The EU gains from the contribution of experts from its member states,

especially well-known cyber experts, who have been working with the EU for

a few years. In addition, the EU also has close consultations on regional

issues. It has taken great interest in the stabilization process of Syria. In the

case of Afghanistan, the EU has had preparatory consultation processes for

which a major conference was hosted in Afghanistan and the EU hopes to

continue these consultations. In Africa, both India and the EU have common

interests and both can have constructive dialogues to extract a fruitful result

together. Thus, India and EU need to act on converging interests and resolve

conceptual differences so that quick results can be obtained. Also, increased

dialogue would strengthen EU-India relations in every aspect.

The

EU looks

at India as

a valuable asset

to the international

community

Ms. Friederike TschampaFirst Counsellor – Head of Section, Political Affairs

Delegation of the EU to India and Bhutan

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IRC’17

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Session IIExpanding Trade

and Investment Ties

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IRC’17

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IRC’17

The Indian mission to the European Union, or then known as the European

Economic Community, was opened in the early 1960s. The reason cited by the

Government of India for initiating this mission was, at that time, before being a

part of the EU, Britain had applied for the first time to the six nation EEC and

India felt that all Commonwealth preferences sworn by India then, would be

ended in 1962 if Britain became a member of the European Common Market.

Therefore, it was wiser for India to open a mission and have direct negotiations

with the EEC for its own trade preferences. Since then, India has had relations

with the EU for 55 years. The case in point now is the way forward. India has had

$80 billion worth of trade with the EU. The question to be considered is whether

this relation can be further built upon. The crucial subject matter for both the

parties now is not the past but the future. Steps can and must be developed via

which India can improve and strengthen relations with the EU.

India has a lot of collaborations with developing countries. Amongst the

developed countries, the front runners are the USA and UK. A direct

relationship with the EU hasn't taken place until quite recently. It is imperative

that in the UN and other multilateral relations, India promotes dialogue not

only with US and Russia but also with the EU. Questions of non-proliferation

and terrorism should not be discussed with select countries from the western

hemisphere and generalised to be Western opinion. This is definitely an area in

which India can seek to improve and India would have to initiate dialogue with

the EU in this regard.

The present government of India has allowed for the production of armaments

to the private sector. However, despite 70 years of independence, India is still

import-dependent for its supply of armaments. The EU could collaborate with

the private sector to manufacture these armaments. The existing truth is that

there are Indian companies willing to manufacture weapons like airplanes and

tanks but they lack the technical finesse. EU companies willing to

manufacture in India, provided they have control over the technology, could be

the first step in collaborations between India and EU on this front. Talks on how

to begin such collaboration would require a plan of action by the Indian

government as the EU is a storehouse of technology and ideas that India could

most definitely look towards in the future.

EU companies

willing to

manufacture in

India, provided

they have

control over

the technology,

could be the

first step in

collaborations

between India

and EU on this

front

Chair - Amb. (Retd.) Mr. Prakash ShahFormer Ambassador to Venezuela and Japan

Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN

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Trade is a two-way relationship and trust forms the base of this. It is also the

base for a strategic partnership. Strategic has many dimensions. Very often it

means something more long term. It also refers to how one approaches

issues in order to complete the agenda. In the case of the India-EU

partnership, it means dealing with something fundamental and bringing

about a fundamental change.

The EIB has its headquarters in Luxembourg. Nearby, one will find the terres

rouges or 'land of red rocks'. It is called so because of the copious amounts of

iron found there, along with huge deposits of coal, coupled with large rivers.

These are all the elements needed to produce steel, which in turn is used

extensively to make armaments.

After WWII, a group of countries came together and formed three

communities: Economic, Defence and Political and in 1957, the Treaty of

Rome was signed. This gave rise to a set of institutions and a number of

governance institutions like the Council of Europe and the European

Parliament. It also gave rise to the executive in the Economic Community and

its financial arm, the EIB. The EEC-6 that signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957

now form the EU-28.

The union budget of the government of India is $80 billion and, as per

Bloomberg estimates in the five emerging economies, there is a deficit of $1

trillion, which is 12 times the size of the Union budget. The budget is roughly

the size of the trade between the EU and India in goods. India is a net exporter

to the EU and exports are quite well diversified, particularly on the Indian

side.

On the EU side, the focus is more on engineered goods and gems. The second

aspect of trade between the two parties is services, which amounts to around

$29 billion. Again, India seems to be the net exporter here as well. The amount

of outward investment from India to the EU is a very small amount and is also

declining over time. The main reason for a spike in this figure is due to two

years, 2013-14 and 2015, from one transaction, which was the Bharti Airtel

transaction in the Netherlands.

India is

seen to have

a GDP growth

that is rising

and surpassing

that of

Europe

Mr. Donal CannonHead, European Investment Bank (EIB), New Delhi

IRC’17

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0

5

10

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

FDI Equity inflows : (USD billion) EU to India

Over the years, EU-28 has become the second largest investor in India after

Mauritius. Over the last 17 years, the cumulative investment by the EU has

been 70 billion euros. This translates into 6000 companies directly employing

1.2 million Indians and indirectly, via the multiplier effect, about five million

in the formal sector.

The biggest investor among the EU is the Netherlands, followed by UK and

Luxembourg. Luxembourg is the 13th biggest investor in India on a global

scale and it has a well-established fund industry. Further, India is seen to

have a GDP growth that is rising and surpassing that of Europe. Recent

improvements in bond rating, excellent views on credit ratings and the ease

of doing business index going from 147 to 100 are some indicators pointing

towards the fact that India's economy is doing well.

The EIB is interested in India and in 2016, the EIB lent $83 billion (roughly

equal to the Union budget) to the country. The EIB is a policy-led bank owned

by EU member states. There is a need to engage the private sector and the

advantage and role of the bank is to push the private sector into development

projects. The EIB operates on the lines of the World Bank and Asian

Development Bank and it starts and works with governments to develop

policies, identify projects and conduct studies. The EIB, however, allows

governments to identify the projects themselves and helps in financing and

implementing them. An instance would be the EIB financing of the Metro Rail

companies in India.

One strategic area would be in the area of off-shore wind energy, which has

yet to take off in India. There is also the area of solar energy, where

partnerships have already been forged. When Mr. Upendra Tripati headed the

International Solar Alliance, an MOU was signed between the EIB and the

Solar Alliance, where the EIB committed its support towards the Indian

initiative to provide affordable solar power, not only in India, but around the

world, particularly to developing economies in the tropics.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India

IRC’17

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The core of the India-EU strategic partnership still remains economic. There

have been improvements in relations with regard to counter-terrorism,

maritime security and other issues. Over the last few years, capacities are

being built within the institutions of the EU to deal with these issues. Still, the

competencies of the EU are limited in this context but trade is still integral and

one of the EU's strengths.

There is a huge amount of literature examining how India's economic

linkages with Europe have been affected over the course of history. During the

pre-colonial period, there were extensive relations with many European

companies and as a result, the Indian economy flourished. Then there was the

dark phase of the colonial era. This was followed by the Cold War period, where

the Soviet Union became India's major trading partner and trade with Europe

was limited during this time frame.

Over the last 25 years, the Indian growth trajectory is on the rise and this

growth has strategic consequences. As a result, India has signed 30+ strategic

partnerships, including one with the EU. Investment figures from the Ministry

of Commerce and Industry state that investment from the EU is more than

that from the US, China, Russia and Japan combined. Data from all financial

and technical collaborations signed by Indian companies show that roughly

35-40% of all approved financial and technical collaborations are with the EU.

Thus, to sustain the growth, we need assistance - both technical and financial

- and the EU is an important source.

However, figures can be misleading. Absolute numbers have been rising but in

terms of percentage figures, they have been falling. In 1995-96, India-EU trade

was 25% of Indian trade. Today, it stands at 14-15%. The reason is that India's

growth with Asian markets is higher.

Data from

all financial

and technical

collaborations

signed by Indian

companies show

that roughly

35-40% of all

approved financial

and technical

collaborations

are with

the EU

Prof. Gulshan SachdevaDirector, UGC Europe Area Studies Programme

Jawaharlal Nehru University

IRC’17

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If the EU is an important partner, India needs to focus on what it expects from

this partnership. This was partly realised when India signed the strategic

partnership and in 2007, when negotiations were started on BTIA. However,

by 2008-09, the momentum was lost owing to problems in India and well as

the EU and after 12 rounds of negotiations, in 2013, negotiations were frozen.

Quoting the EU, “There was a mismatch between the level of ambitions and

expectations. ”Here, the politics at play have to be considered as there are

colonial linkages, which are not present with other developing Asian

countries. The opinion amongst the political parties in India is also quite

varied, as seen over the past 10 years.

In order to create opportunities in the various sectors, both parties will have to

address their different approaches to the trade partnership. India is looking at

creating a step-by-step arrangement, while EU requires a more

comprehensive one.

Also, policy-makers seem unsure of the course a FTA between India and the

EU should take. This is a bit of a dilemma as India has been terminating initial

bilateral agreements with EU members on one hand, while on the other, it

discusses strategic partnerships. Thus, it is of utmost importance that both

India and the EU first chart out their expectations from their strategic

partnership.

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

India China USA UAE Saudi Arabia

EU's largest trading partners, 2015/16 (as % of each country's overall trade)

Source: European Commission

IRC’17

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Enhancing trade through defence and security co-operation and joint

ventures seems to be an integral part of the India-EU strategic partnership.

The government of India has now become more focussed on foreign policy.

Quoting Foreign Secretary Jayashankar, “India wants to be a leading power

rather than just a balancing power.” On the other side, in the EU, the defence

budgets of many member states have been cut down and as a result,

European defence companies are on the lookout for new markets. The cutting

down of the defence budgets might have peaked already in the current Trans-

Atlantic partnership. Europe is looking for a new role for itself as a security

actor and India is going through a phase of military modernization. Thus, co-

operation between India and the EU could result in a win-win situation.

Defence is a major European sector and it directly employs 400,000 people

and has a turnover of over 100 billion euros per year. However, with members

having their own legislations and bureaucracies, this limits the development

of a pan-European defence industry. Members prefer to sustain national

industry flagships and more so in the defence market and the European

defence sector is defined by fragmentation and overcapacities.

Production takes place mainly in six countries: France, Italy, Spain, Sweden,

Germany and the UK. Together, they contribute 86% of the total production.

The EU has been working towards better coordination and consolidation of

the European defence and technological industrial base since the 1990s. The

main step has been the creation of the European Defence Agency (EDA) in

2004. Although defence is a major domain of the member states, there is a

growing activity in the EU to play an enabling role to increase the

competitiveness of the European defence industry.

For this purpose, the European Commission proposed a European action plan

in 2016 as a framework to push for increasing defence industry cooperation to

take place on three levels: one, on EU funded defence research innovation

and technology; two, finance and tax incentives and three, internal market

measures to support competitiveness.

Although

defence is a

major domain

of the member

states, there is

a growing activity

in the EU to

play an enabling

role to increase the

competitiveness

of the

European defence

industry

Ms. Britta PetersenSenior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation

IRC’17

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India has been enjoying sustained GDP growth and the Indian defence budget

is also growing. In 2015-16, it has been around $40 billion, which is 8% more

than the previous year. Funds for R&D have actually decreased from 34% in

2005 to 25% in 2016.

Thus, there is scope for European companies in India. India is estimated to

spend between $130 and $220 billion on its military in the next 10 years and

about 60% of its defence requirements would be met through imports.

Currently, it is the largest worldwide armaments importer and its expenditure

accounts for 14% of global arms imports. Thus, EU companies can certainly

view India as a potential market.

However, there are some issues from both sides, which could hinder a smooth

partnership. There is India's no commitment clause on testing equipment

where there is no payment made for testing of the equipment once procured

from other countries.

To limit this there needs to be a burden-sharing model in place to benefit both

parties. From the perspective of the EU, India needs to work on the protection

of intellectual property rights. Moreover, support and co-operation at the

domestic and political level is integral. Thus, before ensuring any potential

relations in such a sensitive area, these points of disagreement must be

resolved.

Russia, 76%

USA, 7%

Others, 6%

Israel, 5%

UK, 4%Italy, 2% Germany, 1%

India's largest defence suppliers

Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Arms Transfers Database

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Session IIIPartnering for Clean Energy

& Climate Change Mitigation

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India has been a key partner for European companies because of the huge

partnership opportunities in clean earth energy and climate action. Both

parties have very ambitious plans for clean energy - and with regard to the

Paris Conference - some of the commitments made by Europe were to raise

the share of renewable energy up by 27% in 2030, increase energy efficiency

by 30% and decrease greenhouse emission by 40%, compared to the 1990

levels. The EU has been living up to its commitments and clean energy

transitions must go hand in hand with the development agenda for a better

future.

From the period 1990 -2016, global emissions fell by 23% while the EU's GDP

grew by 53%. Accordingly, at the 2016 India-EU summit, leaders decided to

establish Clean Energy and Climate Change partnerships in order to assist

and develop together.

At the recent India-EU summit in October 2017, this commitment was

renewed and has sent an important signal to the international community.

The commitment seeks to mobilize all relevant stakeholders into a multi-

stakeholder framework.

To this effect, the EU is already partnering with India for the offshore wind

project plan off the coast of Gujarat. Another step is the committed support to

the Solar Alliance and to include it into mainstream energy generation

production. Further, the EU has been developing an operation and

maintenance manual for the safety and effectiveness of solar power plant

implementation in India.

As a result of this partnership, Maharashtra has announced that 100 public

buildings will be constructed following energy efficiency guidelines. Also,

the two parties have been cooperating on smart grids, which are important

for managing energy systems as well as developing India-EU clean energy

finance. Hence, both India and the EU are committed to cooperate and

contribute positively to global development.

India has

been a key

partner for

European

companies

because of

the huge

partnership

opportunities

in clean earth

energy and climate

action

Henriette FaergemannFirst Counsellor – Environment, Energy, Climate Change

Delegation of the EU to India and Bhutan

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There are various European examples that can showcase how clean energy is

beneficial for society. Europe is one region that has three times more

renewable energy than any other part of the world.

In 2016, Denmark produced a world record of 42% electricity from wind

turbines and more than 1.5 giga-watts of offshore wind capacity were

commissioned in Europe.

Europe, from 2014 to 2017, witnessed a 60% reduction in the costs of offshore

wind production. As a result, the renewable sector in Europe is creating jobs. It

employs 1 million people and is worth $130 billion. Thus, India can learn from

this model. Furthermore, other India-EU collaborations revolve around water

management. Currently, there is the Ganga river project, the holistic action

plan for the Tapi river Basin, techniques for irrigation efficiency among

others..

At the 2017 India-EU summit a joint understanding was formed on smart and

sustainable urbanization, resource efficiency initiatives in collaboration

with the NITI Aayog, as well as on air quality management.

The fruits of these partnerships can be enjoyed with a focus on innovation

and technology transfer, clear market signals and significant involvement of

the private sector.

0

5

10

15

20

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

EU: GDP & CO emissions2-

GDP (current US$ trillion)

CO emissions (metric2

tons per capita)

Source: The World Bank

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Climate change is a major challenge in the 21st century in terms of how to

make a transition from non-renewable to renewable energy. For an efficient

transition, the India-EU cooperation could benefit from three suggestions.

The first is to enable participation by both blocs in the International Solar

Alliance. This initiative was taken by India and France at the Paris

Conference on climate change in 2015 and will become fully operational from

December 6th 2017. The objective of this alliance is to bring down the cost of

solar energy production and also to generate project finance in three ways:

firstly, by boosting the global demand for solar energy by aggregating and

bringing together the energy demand of member countries; secondly, by

promoting standardization of equipment and processes; and thirdly, by

promoting research and development in storage systems. The International

Solar Alliance membership should not be restricted to the tropical countries.

There lies a huge potential for solar power generation in countries beyond the

tropical countries as demonstrated by Germany. Furthermore, Ladakh, which

has the maximum potential for solar energy lies outside the tropic. Therefore,

there is no reason to exclude countries that lie outside the tropical zone.

The second proposal is the need to form trilateral partnerships between the

EU, India and African countries in the solar energy initiative as well as for

forestry-related programs. Consideration of the costs and the fact that

geographical conditions in India are similar to that of Africa should prove a

boost to the partnership.

The third proposal is on climate change adaptation for which India and EU

should collaborate for mutual cooperation in research and development of

preventive measures for tropical medicine, particularly for vector-borne

diseases. Such diseases are of global importance due to global warming. As a

result of the rise in temperature, there has been a migration of vector-borne

diseases from Asia to Europe. Therefore, there's a commonality of interests

between India and EU to work out cost-effective remedies for water borne

diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya etc.

There's a

commonality of

interests between

India and EU

to work out

cost effective

remedies for

water borne

diseases

Amb. (Retd.) Mr. Chandrashekhar DasguptaFormer Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and China

Distinguished Fellow, TERI

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The problem of depleting air quality is not new. An infamous instance of great

damage done through air pollution can be traced back to the 1952 London smog,

which resulted in nearly 12,000 premature deaths. India can substantially learn

from such incidents while forming its own institutions. Highlighting the

experiences of the European universities and research collaborations with the

Indian government, four areas that need attention can be examined: air pollution

as a public health disaster, impact of command and regulation methods,

monitoring and new environmental governance.

A matter of concern is that the standards in India are more lax than in nations or

blocs like China or the EU. In India, it is not only Delhi that faces the problem of air

pollution but almost the entire Indo-Gangetic plain area. Recent research carried

out on the impact of air pollution on life expectancy found that an increase of

particulate pollution by 10mg/m3 reduces life expectancy by one year. Thus,

stringent measures need to be taken to curb air pollution. However, the current

Indian status quo regulations are more reliant on command and control

regulations that have absolute performance standards and technology mandates.

The problem with this is that they can be expensive. Hence, one of the frequent

measures used is to push polluting industries out of cities.

Since non-compliance to environmental standards is a criminal offence,

industries or the contributors to that pollution should be imprisoned, which,

unfortunately, is not sustainable. This then leads the government to look for stop-

gap measures. Another possible alternative for regulation boards is to mandate

equipment. However, these have high capital costs and are not necessarily

effective. What could work would be to make pollution a civil offense rather than a

criminal one and would then make pollution control a cost of doing business.

A more efficient practice undertaken by European countries is the Emission

Trading Programs. Here, the cost of reducing pollution is different for different

polluters, which in turn brings down the expense and effectively curbs emissions.

To benefit from this model India needs to make institutional improvements with

monitoring being the most essential process.

A matter of

concern is that

the standards

that in India

are more lax

than in nations

or blocs like

China or

the EU

Dr. Santosh HarishAssociate Director

EPIC-University of Chicago, Delhi Centre

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Rather than relying on auditors, technology can help in such situations. Tiny

sensors lodged within the chimneys of industries can release timely data to

regulators. However, this is not possible in the foreseeable future in India.

Finally, there should be more inclusive participation of different

stakeholders. Civil society members and communities can contribute to

reducing pollution while benefitting from low cost sensors rather than

through expensive, centralized regulatory equipment. The EU has done a

remarkable job in forming alliances between universities, governments and

citizen groups and in setting up sensory networks and communication

channels through pollution control bodies. This is also a potential area where

India can look forward to further collaboration with the EU.

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India's faces the triple challenge of growth, development and climate change.

While growth and development remain well-known, climate change

mitigation has emerged as the new and crucial aspect of building resilience

against climate impact. Although the Indian government aims to achieve

ambitious economic growth and human development it doesnt factor in the

issues of climate change. Hence, India is already experiencing the

destructive impact of climate change as a result of its aggressive focus on

economic growth.

Despite its low per capita GHG emissions, India still remains the fourth

largest GHG emitter in the world. It is a lower-middle income country and the

only emerging economy in this group. Therefore, India has charted an

ambitious climate agenda for a 'low carbon development approach' as

presented to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC), which addresses many problems. A few include: 20 to 25%

emission intensity reduction by 2020, production of 175GW of renewable

energy by 2022, 10GW energy conservation through energy efficient methods

and creating a natural sink through afforestation. Additionally, India's

nationally determined contributions include reducing emissions by 33-35%

from the 2005 level by 2030 and achieving around 40% cumulative electric

power capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 with the

help of technology transfer and low-cost international finance, including

from the Green Climate Fund.

India also aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of

CO equivalent through added forest and tree cover by 2030. Thus, 2

domestically, India is trying to work hard along these lines and so

collaborations with other able partners like the EU would most certainly be

welcomed.

Despite its

low per capita

GHG emissions,

India still remains

the fourth largest

GHG emitter in

the world

Dr. Sanjay VashistDirector, Climate Action Network, South Asia

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However, there are a few challenges in this regard. Upgrading obsolete

technology like grids that can receive energy from diverse sources and

technological solutions like smart metering that can encourage

entrepreneurs in the promotion of renewable energy such as solar power etc.

Also, transforming consumer mindsets and transitioning investments into

clean energy infrastructure without compromising on growth and

development are all part of the challenge. India will be able to develop itself as

a proponent of clean energy more easily via partnerships with progressive

blocs like the EU.

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Session IVCooperation in

Higher Education & Skill Development

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Symbiosis International (Deemed University) has been a major beneficiary of

the India-EU cooperation for the past several years. For students, it's not just

about the excellent education gained through such exchange programmes

but, more importantly, the pedagogy of teaching in these universitie, which

involves some of the world's best practices. Due to the unrestricted

movement between EU nations, exposure to cultural diversities among

students is also an added benefit.

With regard to the EU partnership, India, and specifically the Ministry of Skill

Development, has learnt a lot, whether it may be the quality framework

established or the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Some

universities have even replicated the German model like the University of

Applied Sciences in Madhya Pradesh, Indore and the Symbiosis Skills and

Open University in Pune, which again is based on the German model, where

large companies have set up their laboratories on campus. Also, the

programmes that have started are very similar to those run in some German

universities. Hence, there is a lot that Indian universities have learnt and a lot

that can still be learnt by other universities from this partnership.

Due to

the unrestricted

movement between

EU nations,

exposure to

cultural diversities

among students

is also an

added benefit

Chair – Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar

Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

Principal Director, Symbiosis

Pro Chancellor

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The Federation for Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was

set up in 1927 at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi. Its basic motto is to build

'brand India globally' and also look at policy changes that are needed

domestically. Through ministerial level interactions, research and studies to

understand the challenges faced by Indian industries, best practices within

and outside the country are identified and disseminated among

stakeholders.

FICCI was one of the first industrial chambers to start working with the social

sector and turned its focus towards education in 2000. The factors that

caused the identification of this new area of focus were the industries'

growing need for skilled workers and the increase in the number of private

universities and institutions in the country. Today, the Indian higher

education system has over 840 universities, 51,000 colleges/institutions and

34.6 million students, which constitutes 24% of the Gross Enrolment Ratio

(GER), 64% of which are under the private sector.

However, in order to cater to 140 million students by 2030, capabilities need to

be widened. It can be accurately said that although India has exponentially

grown in the higher education sector, new universities springing up would

not meet the desired end as quality has been compromised for quantity. The

rush for quality education is tremendous.

The demography suggests that India is going to be catering to an ageing

developed world by 2030 by providing 47 million skilled workers globally. Yet,

while India has this potential labour surplus, the West has already started

using automation, robotics and artificial intelligence to counter that

dividend. Thus, India's major challenge now focuses on how to appropriately

train its talent. The responsibility of the young generation should be to

transform India from a job-seeking nation to a job-generating one.

The

responsibility

of the young

generation should

be to transform

India from a

job-seeking nation

to a job-generating

one

Mrs. Shobha MishraAsst. Secretary General, FICCI

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As part of initiatives to cement Indian education on the global arena over the

next 10 to 15 years, the government has come up with the idea of setting-up 20

world-class institutions, 10 in the private sector and 10 in the public sector.

The government is also trying to do away with the UGC affiliation system and

bring in graded autonomy, by which, based on their rankings and

recommendations, institutions would be free to act according to their needs.

The government has also come up with the National Skill Qualification

Framework that will allow students to leave the university system, work for

some time and return to it once they are ready.

FICCI is trying to bring a new apprenticeship act, which would make SMEs

welcome student interns and provide more employment opportunities to

them, bridging the gap between the vocational and educational sectors. The

World Bank is also providing funds for both apprenticeship and policy

development programmes for robust and seamless implementation in order

to promote effective skill development in the country.

A major upcoming thrust area is the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Fourth

Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) showcases the impact that automation,

robotics, artificial intelligence etc. have on employment, as a result of which

several jobs may become redundant, entirely skill-dependent or may require

new sets of skills. The challenge is how to actually absorb jobs and develop

the needed skill sets. Universities will have to shift their pedagogies and

programmes to bring in these functionalities. This is the industry-academia

and laymen framework that FICCI has been working on and continues to do

so.

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India is now more focused on its takeaways from the India-EU partnership.

The reason for this is that Europe has become increasingly important in

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy since there is a greater

realisation that the attainment of comprehensive national power for India

can only be achieved in association with the West i.e. the US and Europe.

Addressing the topic of skill development, India faces a paradoxical situation

where 12 million people enter the work force each year while only four million

are properly trained. There exists a lack of coordination among the various

ministries and a multiplicity in the assessment of certification systems.

There is also a great shortage of trainers and a mismatch between the

existing demand and supply resources.

Hence, the question stands as to why India wants or seeks international

collaboration. In addition to sharing international practices, India will also

benefit from the bench-marking of Indian standards in accordance with

international standards, the training of trainers and enhancing the capacity

of skill creation in the country.

Surprisingly until the mid-2000s, skill development was never a focus of

India-EU cooperation. For the first time, in September 2005, the political

declaration of the India-EU strategic partnership agreed to hold dialogues on

migration and consular issues and to encourage institutions to take joint

studies on skill set shortages and the changing demographic profile of the

two continents. Since then, interest declined and was only revived in 2016

when the India-EU Agenda 2020 emerged. In 2016, discussions about

exploring possibilities of cooperation in skill development with the

involvement of member states were undertaken and the joint statement

specifically mentioned skill development as an objective. However, it was the

2017 summit that concretely and specifically mentioned supporting an

interest in skill initiatives like Skill India.

The EU has

emerged as the

leading partner

in India's

transformative

socio-economic

agenda and as

a key strategic

partner in meeting

India's development

needs

Prof. Rajendra JainJean Monnet Chair

European Integration and International Relations

Jawaharlal Nehru University

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Looking back at the 11th India-EU summit in December 2010, the then Prime

Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had, for the first time, expressed a keen desire

to benefit from Europe's experience in the areas of skill development,

vocational training and SMEs. As a result, about six workshops were held and

the seeds emerged through a 6 million euro India-EU skill development

project, which ran until November 2016.

It focused on three key areas: training and skilling the trainers, developing

the national skill qualification framework and developing and enhancing the

national information system for the labour market. The EU has also sought to

leverage key member states like Germany which enjoys a fruitful

relationship with India in development administration and development

cooperation. Initiatives such as iMOVE with the Federal Ministry of

Education and Research and the NSDC have been under progress with the

German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) being actively

involved.

The EU has emerged as the leading partner in India's transformative socio-

economic agenda and as a key strategic partner in meeting India's

development needs. The EU is actively collaborating in India's leading

flagship initiatives in order to open-up business opportunities and bring in

much needed best practices, investment, skills, technologies and human

resources.

A worsening demographic profile within a growing population has been

forcing the EU to think about the problem and the opportunities of either in-

sourcing highly skilled immigrants or outsourcing services. Therefore, there

is considerable potential for India and the EU to improve their partnership in

increasingly cutting-edge technologies in a manner that combines Indian

strengths with European capabilities. However, consideration should be

taken regarding the current backlash against migration and the rise of

populist parties in Europe.

Finally, it is too ambitious for Prime Minister Modi to think that India will

become the next skill capital of the world. Only when India is able to skill,

educate and generate jobs for this younger generation can it think about

providing 50 million skilled workers to the world while meeting its own needs

at the same time. If not, the demographic dividend might actually become the

demographic nightmare.

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There are only a handful of products that are manufactured in India and used

across the globe. This, however, is not a flaw of the Indian education system.

Statistics show that 48% – 52% of scientists in NASA are Indians. This is the same

case with leading MNCs like Microsoft, Google and Apple. Hence, while the

Indian education system does provide the right platform, the need of the hour is

that everyone should become a life-long learner. To work towards this goal, there

are over 4000 educational institutions available with over 35% of the best

universities in the world, in any field, within Europe.

However, Indians do not prefer European universities due to the misconception

that the medium of instruction is the local European language. This is not the

case. Surveys conducted show that over 90% of the Masters programmes offered

are in English and the Erasmus+ offers scholarships for such Masters

programmes in these universities. It provides a platform for Indian students to

study and work in Europe and also funds projects and scholarships for staff

members, including both teaching and non-teaching personnel. It also fosters

partnership between the EU and countries across the globe. Having functioned

in India since 2004, the statistics of the past two years show that Maharashtra

has been the biggest beneficiary of Erasmus+.

The four pillars for higher educational institutions include: international credit

mobility, Erasmus Mundus joint degree programmes, capacity building for

higher education and Jean Monnet activities. Under credit mobility there are

180,000 scholarships valid for two years and available for Bachelors, Masters and

Doctoral programmes. Short-term programmes, requiring 3 – 12 months

residency in Europe, are also available and are fully paid. From 2017, credit

mobility programmes also enable training programs in Europe. The Erasmus

Mundus joint degree programme is a fully-funded Masters programme tailored

to meet the demands of the future and is revised every five years. Capacity-

building for higher education is for institutions under which staff members can

apply for 2-3 years of funding of up to one million euros. Under its criteria, three

Indian and three European partners are required. Finally, the Jean Monnet

programme focuses on European integration studies and can be used to propose

teaching and research methods as well as policy debates with the academic

world. From 2014, there have been three modules, three chairs and three projects.

Indians do

not prefer

European

universities

due to the

misconception

that the medium

of instruction is

the local European

language

Mr. Sanjeev RoyHigher Education Consultant

European Union Delegation to India and Bhutan

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Survey No. 227, 3rd floor, Symbiosis Campus,

Opposite Pune International Airport, Symbiosis Road

Viman Nagar, Pune - 411 014. Maharashtra, India.

SSIS Email - [email protected]

Website - http://www.ssispune.edu.in/

Telephone: +91 20 6686 1230/1231. Mobile No.: +91 9075022773.

SYMBIOSIS SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (SSIS)