Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start the answer by briefly defining the context of the recent virtual India-EU meeting.
• Discuss the need for strategic convergence between India & EU.
• Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

Recently, a virtual India-EU leaders meeting was held between Indian Prime Minister and 27 EU leaders. The most significant outcome of the summit was that after eight years, India and the EU have decided to resume negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement.

However, it was not only the trade that paved the way for reinvigoration of relations, the changing geo-political circumstances is prompting both India & Europe to strategically converge.

Body

Need for Strategic Convergence Between India & EU

• EU’s Need to Pivot Away from China: EU recently signed a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with China, which has drawn a lot of criticism and its ratification has now been suspended because of diplomatic tensions.
• Economic Logic: With the EU being India’s largest trading partner and the second-largest export destination, the economic logic of strong India-EU economic relations is self-evident.
• Convergence in Indo-Pacific Theatre: The EU is being forced to reckon with the geopolitical implications of rising China and India is looking for substantive partnerships with like-minded nations to bring stability to the Indo-Pacific theatre.
• Multi-Polar World Order: Further, India is looking beyond the bipolar geopolitical competition between the US and China and works towards the establishment of a Multi-polar world.
• Combating Climate Change: India can learn from a new industrial strategy called the Green Deal of EU to render its carbon-emission neutral by 2050.
  
  • The EU and India could endeavour transforming into carbon-neutral economies by 2050 by investing in clean energies.
  • In India’s efforts to increase the use of renewable energy in India, the investment and technology of Europe is of paramount importance.

Conclusion

As strategic realities evolve rapidly in an era defined by Covid-19 and its aftermath, India and the EU have a new opening to re-evaluate the fundamentals of their engagement. Whether the two “natural partners” can make the most of this unique synergy remains to be seen.