New publication by Prof. Pascaline WINAND on EU-India relations

Professor Pascaline WINAND, Director of Studies in the European Interdisciplinary Studies Department, has recently published a chapter entitled “Las relaciones entre la Unión Europea e India desde las perspectivas histórica y contemporánea: ¿de compromiso limitado a convergencia estratégica?” in the Tratado de Derecho y Políticas de la Unión Europea. This is a useful publication at a time when the EU-India relationship is making significant strides.

Prof. Pascaline WINAND first examines the historical background of EU-India relations. This includes the reactions of Indian business and governmental circles to the creation of the European Economic Community and to the first application for British membership. Indian efforts to bring on board key actors such as some reluctant EEC member states for the conclusion of a Commercial Cooperation Agreement between India and the EEC in the 1970s are shown to have benefited from the support of the European Commission and British officials.

With the end of the Cold War came significant changes in India-EU relations. India became a priority country for the EU as evidenced by a new Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development and a Joint Statement on Political Dialogue. In 2004, the EU relationship with India was then upgraded once more, with EU-India relations being elevated to the level of ‘strategic partnership’. However, the author shows that significant challenges have remained in EU-India relations with much being discussed but less being achieved.

Prof. WINAND looks at India-EU mutual perceptions and misperceptions and focuses on specific areas where the EU lacks visibility in India. The author seeks to identify some of the current challenges and opportunities for collaboration in development cooperation, scientific and technical cooperation, political and security cooperation as well as in trade and investment.