India and the European Union (EU) on Friday discussed mechanisms to enhance security and trade cooperation during the 14th Summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Donald Franciszek Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Talking tough against terror, the EU for the first time agreed to mention not only the terror entities in their joint statement but also the terrorists that work against India. Important regional and international issues were also discussed during the meeting.
"The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities, including Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman lakhvi, Dawood Ibrahim, lashkar-e-Tayibba, Jaish-eMohammad, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Haqqani Network, Al Qaeda, ISIS (Da'esh) and their affiliates," the joint statement on counter terrorism said clearly naming terrorists that have tried to destabilise India.
"The talks during India, EU Summit were productive. The leaders (of India and EU) agreed to further strengthen cooperation against terrorism. leaders agreed on stronger cooperation to act against global terrorists and terror entities including Hafeez Saeed," said Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary West in Ministry of External Affairs. Clean energy and developing smart cities in India were other areas of discussion.
In his media statement after the talks, Modi said that India and EU haveexpanded their engagement into many new sectors and agreed that to continue efforts to make it more comprehensive and beneficial. "We have agreed to strengthen our security cooperation and work together against terrorism. We will not only further strengthen our bilateral cooperation on this issue, but will also increase our cooperation and coordination in multilateral for a," Modi added.
In the joint statement, the EU appreciated India's positive role in Afghanistan even as both sides reconfirmed their commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability and supporting Afghanistan on its development path to become a self-reliable and prosperous State.
India and the EU also expressed deep concern at the recent spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar that has resulted in the outflow of a large number of people from the state, many of whom have sought shelter in neighbouring Bangladesh.
They urged the Myanmar authorities to implement the Kofi Annan-led Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations and work with Bangladesh to enable their return. India and the EU also recognised the role being played by Bangladesh in extending humanitarian assistance to the people in need.
Both sides also condemned the nuclear test conducted by North Korea on 3 September 2017 and called for the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and stressed the responsibility of those who support DPRK's nuclear and missile programmes should be fixed.
While agreeing to strengthen ties in trade, Tusk and Juncker talked about the much-delayed trade pact between the two sides. launched in June 2007, negotiations for the proposed EU-India Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) have faced several hurdles with major differences on crucial issues like intellectual property rights, duty cut in automobile and spirits.
Three agreements were signed at the end of the Summit. These pertained to implementing an arrangement between the European Commission and the Science and Engineering Research Board for Indian researchers hosted by the European Research Council grantees in Europe, a finance contract of Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2-line for Euro 300 million out of total loan of Euro 500 million, and joint declaration between the Interim Secretariat of the International Solar Alliance and the European Investment Bank.