*Déclaration conjointe du 8ème Sommet UE-Inde‏ * (EN)

***The eighth India-European Union Summit was held in Delhi on 30 November 2007. The Republic of India was represented by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister, Shri Kamal Nath, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri M K Narayanan, National Security Adviser.

The EU was represented by Mr José Sócrates, Prime Minister of Portugal, in his capacity as President of the European Council, by Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Mr Peter Mandelson, European Commissioner for Trade, and Mr João Gomes Cravinho, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The following message was jointly issued:

1. In the 60th year of India's independence and the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, India and the EU, as the two largest democracies of the world and global actors in a multipolar world, underscored their commitment to the Strategic Partnership launched at The Hague in November 2004. They reaffirmed that the Strategic Partnership flows from a shared conviction in the values of democracy, fundamental freedoms (including religious), pluralism, rule of law, respect for human rights and multilateralism in the international political architecture as the means to tackle global challenges effectively. They expressed their determination to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership and to cooperate at the global level for the cause of peace, security and sustainable development for all.

2. India and EU welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Country Strategy Paper for India for 2007-2010, which with a total budget of Euro 260 million, will support India's efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to implement the India-EU Joint Action Plan.

3. The two sides reviewed the Joint Action Plan, adopted at the sixth India-EU Summit at New Delhi in September 2005, welcomed the progress in its implementation, and looked forward to further advances. The two sides are to make an overall assessment of the Joint Action Plan in 2008 and, on this occasion, will assess ways and means of further upgrading the overall framework of EUIndia relations.

4. They emphasised building on the existing bilateral cooperation programme in innovation and reduction of greenhouse gas emission, research on clean development and climate change and also on promotion of energy security and sustainable energy supply. The leaders noted with satisfaction the intensification of the dialogue at various levels between the two strategic partners as well as between India and individual EU Member States. The leaders welcomed the formation of a Delegation for Relations with India in the European Parliament. They agreed that the creation of an Indian parliamentary caucus for relations with the EU would encourage interaction between Parliamentarians from the two sides. The leaders also underlined the need to keep increasing people-to people contacts between India and EU Member States for businesspeople, professionals and members of official delegations, as well as researchers, scientists, students, academics and civil society representatives.

5. India and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system and to a deeper level of bilateral trade relations. The successful and timely outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) multilateral trade negotiations remains the foremost trade policy priority of the two sides. Both sides are determined to work closely together to ensure the successful conclusion of the DDA negotiations through a comprehensive, balanced and ambitious outcome in all areas of negotiation. Both sides agreed that development mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration must be honoured and reflected in the modalities being negotiated as also in the final outcome. A successful conclusion of the negotiations must yield an outcome that enhances market opening and contributes to development.

6. The leaders noted that bilateral trade and investment between India and the EU has been growing steadily and reflects the strengthening of bilateral economic ties. The sides also took note of the further work of the High Level Trade Group since the last Summit when it was decided to work towards concluding a Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement. India and the EU welcomed the progress achieved in the first few rounds of negotiations on the India-EU Trade and Investment Agreement and reaffirmed commitment to further intensify negotiations.

7. Both sides welcomed the India-EU Business Summit coinciding with the political dialogue. Leaders welcomed the second meeting of the EU-India CEO Round Table, which provided for useful and constructive interactions among key Business leaders from both sides. The Indian Side welcomed the proposal for creation of a European Business and Technology Centre in India, with the objective to promote private and public partnerships in specific sectors such as energy, environment, clean development and climate change.

8. The leaders reiterated their commitment to promote international peace and security. In this context the leaders highly valued the India-EU Security Dialogue, which had its second meeting in Berlin in May 2007, for exchanging views on security issues, including disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as bilateral issues of mutual concern.

9. Emphasising the paramount need for effective multilateralism and their commitment to a rules-based international order, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to intensify cooperation at the United Nations and in multilateral fora to address issues of global concern, including in the areas of human rights, development and the environment. The Summit underlined the importance of a strong, effective and efficient United Nations Organisation and the leaders also recognised the need for a comprehensive UN reform. The Summit agreed to work jointly towards strengthening the role of the UN Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, and stressed the need to maintain momentum in the efforts to adapt the United Nations to the needs of today's world. In this same context the leaders stressed the need for more efficient environmental activities in the UN system. They also agreed to continue to explore the possibility of a more coherent institutional framework, building on existing institutions.

10. Both sides remain committed to reinforcing cooperation within the UN Human Rights Council and enhancing their dialogue on human rights, both in a bilateral and multilateral context. Both the EU and India are committed to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as promoting good governance. The Summit leaders also stressed the importance of eliminating impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

UE