In conversation with EU leaders, India steps up to enhance economic cooperation; Know more here

New Delhi, February 19: Holding wide ranging talks on key issues such as combating terrorism, climate change, EAM Dr S Jaishankar on Tuesday met top leaders of the European Union, further enhancing economic cooperation, which would benefit both India and the EU.

 

"Minister shared India's foreign policy priorities and regional and global perspective with the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) of the EU", the Ministry of External Affairs said in its official release yesterday. While both the sides expect to deepen their engagement - particularly on common priorities such as addressing climate change, safeguarding multilateralism, the duo also focussed on cooperation in defence, security, connectivity, digital economy, trade and investment.

 

 

This being Jaishankar's first visit to the EU after the assumption of office of the new Commission in last December, the Foreign Minister also met EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen and the two leaders discussed experiences in capacity building and development partnerships.

The Minister further held positive and productive parleys at the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU. Meeting the EU Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan, Jaishankar exchanged views on the prospects for India-EU economic cooperation. He also held a very engaging conversation with Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans.

The EAM while in a discourse with Philippe Goffin, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Defence, congratulated him on Belgium's assumption of the Presidency of the UNSC for February 2020. The two ministers discussed India-Belgium cooperation in the bilateral context, in multilateral fora as well as regional and global issues of shared interest.

Jaishankar's visit comes weeks after the European Parliament postponed until March a vote on a joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by its members against India's Citizenship Amendment Act, which was debated at its Plenary session in Brussels. The Minister also met German Defence Minister A. Kramp-Karrenbauer and held discussions on Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific. He also met German Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier and apprised him of the growing opportunities to do business in India.

 

Jaishankar, who was in Germany during the weekend for the prestigious Munich Security Conference, arrived in Brussels on Monday to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit for the India-EU summit here next month.