The Relationship between the European Union and India

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject Business economics - Economic and Social History, grade: 1,0, University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam, course: European Affairs, language: English, abstract: What is the analysis about? In view of globalization and economic reorganization, the EU needs to take up and intensify bilateral relations to current and future superpowers, like e.g. the United States of America and China People's Republic. Increasingly, India is both in terms of global politics and economically awaking and stepping into the first row of global powers. At least, this is what it is supposed to according to observer. Moreover, the role of a major regional actor makes up the significance of India as a strategic partner, esp. in the fight against terrorism, which haunts India in equal measure like Europe. Thus, the European Union naturally has to strengthen cooperation with India. Since the EU wisely foresaw the majority of developments, they installed the so-called regular 'EU / India Summit' in June 2000 and regular talks are held now. In the following, the analysis in question will deal with the steady relationship with India and the developments within the latter. Particularly, a focus is to be laid at the trade relations between the two sides. Firstly, I want to classify this relationship into the lane of all strategic partnerships of the European Union. By this, an evaluation of this relationship in contrast to other ones ought to be achieved. Starting from this, a description of the current situation between both parties and a prospect into the future of the latter are to be carried out. After a short explanation of the methodology, the findings will be presented. Here, a track down of particular issues to improve and new cooperation fields take the centre stage. This part is followed by a conclusion and possible solutions discovered during research. Based on those, recommendations will be made aiming particularly at trade relations. The European Union keeps up relations with several countries outside the old continent, and especially constant contact with six nations, i.e. the United States, Canada, Japan, China PR, Russia, and, most recently, India. Most currently, on September 7th, 2005, the sixth 'EU / India Summit' took place in New Delhi. The journey, led by British prime minister and current EU president, Tony Blair, originally began with an 'EU / China Summit'. Hence, political observers had the opportunity to directly compare the two relationships.