Brussels: India and European Union expect to deepen their engagement – particularly in the field of defence security and menace of terrorism.
The two sides also seek to cooperate in addressing climate change, safeguarding multilateralism, cooperation in defence, security, connectivity, digital economy, trade and investment.
In this context, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Executive Vice President for European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan and Commissioner for International Partnership Mme Jutta Urpilainen.
The minister is visiting Brussels at the invitation of European Union’s High Representative/Vice President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles for a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union.
This is Dr Jaishankar’s first visit to the EU after the assumption of office of the new Commission in December 2019.
The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) is constituted by EU High Representative and the 27 Foreign Ministers of the members states of the European Union.
It is responsible for the European Union’s external action on foreign policy, defence and security, trade, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
Dr Jaishankar shared with the FAC, India’s foreign policy priorities and regional and global perspective.
According to an official statement, the focus of the exchange was on the common values of the India and European Union, which represent the world’s two largest democracies and their shared commitment to democracy, multilateralism, rules-based international order, rules-based international trade with WTO at its core and sustainable development.
The minister also called on President of the European Council of Heads of Government of the 27 member states of the European Union Charles Michel.
He apprised President Michel of his discussions with the FAC, earlier during the day.
He also met his Belgian counterpart Philippe Goffin and 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.
During his one-day visit, the minister exchanged views with a group of Members of the European Parliament representing various member states and political groupings in the new European Parliament.
