EU-INDIA EXPERTS’ DAY - Leading Think Tanks to discuss EU – India relations in Brussels
Brussels, April 1, 2019. The EU India Think Tanks Twinning Initiative sponsored by the EU Delegation to India and the Europe-India Research and Dialogue Network (EIRDN) are jointly organising an EU-India Experts’ Day in Brussels on April 02 2019 bringing together leading scholars and officials for a full day of discussions on EU-India relations.
The “EU-India Experts’ Day” will be inaugurated by Mr Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia & the Pacific, European External Action Service, Brussels, together with the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the European Union, H.E. Ms. Gaitri I. Kumar. Discussion amongst EIRDN members and a lunch co- hosted by Ms Hilde Hardeman, Head of the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and by Ms Caroline Vinot, Head of Division, Regional Affairs and South Asia, (EEAS) will follow.
At the Think Tanks Twinning Initiative workshop in the afternoon, experts will hold an in-depth discussion on research findings. Remarks by Ms Caroline Vinot, Head of Division, Regional Affairs and South Asia, EEAS will conclude the day.
Under the Think Tanks Twinning Initiative, European and Indian Think Tanks have jointly produced the following research papers: Prospects for EU-India Cooperation in Central Asia (Global Policy Institute, London and Jawaharlal Nehru University), Cooperation between EU and India on Africa – possibilities and chances (Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Centre for International Relations, Warsaw), EU-India disaster management cooperation (Observer Research Foundation, Chatham House and European Institute for Security Studies) and Connectivity Approaches in the Indian Ocean Region: Avenues for EU-India Maritime Cooperation (Clingendael Institute and Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses). Think Tanks will come together to present the research findings and discuss the possible relevant areas of cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy and global governance between the EU and India.
The EU-India Think Tanks Twinning Initiative started in 2015 with the aim of promoting better understanding and stimulating joint research between Indian and EU Think Tanks. The initiative aims to foster interaction between leading Indian and European think tanks through a series of joint projects involving research publications and events. Coming together of the think tanks further feeds into the EU-India strategic relationship by suggesting relevant and concrete ideas and recommendations on how the two can further strengthen their cooperation in the fields of foreign and security policy and global governance.
About EIRDN: Led by Friends of Europe, Centre for European Policy Studies, Swedish Institute of International Affairs and Observer Research Foundation, EIRDN is a focal point for research on Europe India relations and track 2 and 1.5 initiatives of public diplomacy. By pooling experts from more than 20 leading institutes representing 13 European countries and several Indian States, EIRDN acts as a go-to resource offering expertise on India and on the EU in their policy debates and bringing experts and researchers closer in their work.
About the European Union (EU)
The EU, which consists of 28 countries, has the world's largest economy and its third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 19 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment. It is also at the forefront of policies on sustainability. Since 1999 the EU has also built a common foreign and security policy and since 2003 makes contributions to global crisis management. Since 2009, a High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy drives the EU's international action. From 2016 the EU's common security and defence policy have been substantially strengthened.
EU-India relations
Over 50 years the EU and India have worked together to reduce poverty, prevent disasters, expand trade, secure global public goods, enhance security around the world and promote joint research in energy, health, agriculture and many other fields of mutual interest. More information at http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india
For press enquiries:
Poonam Kapila