New Delhi
The European Union Political and Security Committee (PSC) including ambassadors from the 27 members of the Bloc will make its first visit to India this week for discussions aimed at deepening strategic cooperation before the India-EU summit next year.
The PSC is a crucial body responsible for foreign policies, security and current defense of the EU who provide councils to the European Council, the Military Committee and the Politico-Military Group. The visit is a follow -up of a trip to India in February by the College of Commissioners led by President Ursula von der Leyen.
During his visit to India from September 10 to 14, the committee led by Ambassador Delphine Pronk will hold strategic discussions with senior officials, representatives of the private sector defense, civil society organizations and the main reflection groups, the EU said in a statement.
This commitment aims at a complete assessment of political priorities and the exploration of future cooperation on the main questions of policy, security and defense, in particular in the EU-India summit.
Pronk said: “EU-India collaboration is vital in the main areas of mutual interest, including the fight against terrorism, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, maritime security and awareness of the maritime field, space security, the cooperation of the defense industry and the counter-manipulation of foreign information and interference.”
All these questions will be on the agenda of the Committee, which will present its recommendations to the main EU political direction to strengthen cooperation with India, said Pronk.
The EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, stressed that the EU and India are natural partners in the “volatile geopolitical and economic landscape” because of their strongly convergent shared interests and values.
“Our managers are determined to raise the EU-Indian strategic partnership and to exploit its immense potential. This mutual profit partnership can contribute to the prosperity and the security of our citizens and to contribute to global stability and security,” said Delphin.
The visit of the PSC in India underlines “the collective will of the European team to strengthen links with India, in particular in the field of defense and security cooperation,” he said.
The PSC visit is also based on the EU-Indian inaugural strategic dialogue in June. The EU is one of the largest trade and investors in India, the two parties working to conclude a free trade agreement by the end of 2025.
The PSC includes ambassadors of the Member States based in Brussels and is chaired by the European External Action Service. Its main responsibilities include monitoring of the world situation and the recommendation of strategic approaches to the EU Council, while guaranteeing political control and strategic orientation of crisis management operations.
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