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The Launch The India-European Union Forum of Parliamentarians (IEUFP) was formally launched on April 2, 2005 by Mr. K. Natwar Singh, Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs in the presence of Dinesh Trivedi, Chairman, IEUFP, Robert Kharshiing, Co-chairman, IEUFP, Onkar S. Kanwar, President, FICCI, Shyam Saran, Foreign Secretary and HE Fransisco da Camara Gomes, Ambassador of the delegation of the European Commission to India. Several prominent Members of Parliament were present on the occasion. They included Ashwani Kumar, Lalit Suri, Santosh Bagrodia, Shahid Siddiqui, R.C.S Reddy, Manvendra Singh and B.K Deo. The inaugural session was also attended by the Ambassadors of Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Ireland, Slovakia, Sweden, Germany, Cyprus, Serbia and Bhutan. Deepak Chatterjee (Indian Ambassador designate to Belgium), Shashank (Former Foreign Secretary), Ambassador Raghunath (Former Indian Ambassador to Russia) and Sujatha Singh, (Joint Secretary-Europe I, Ministry of External Affairs) also attended the launch. Senior FICCI officials who present on the occasion were P. Murari (Advisor, FICCI), Dr. Amit Mitra (Secretary General, FICCI), Krishan Kalra (Additional Secretary General, FICCI), Rajan Kohli (Deputy Secretary General, FICCI), Mr. V.K Topa (Advisor, FICCI), Alop Mittal, (Advisor, FICCI) and Ramesh Chandran (Executive Director, Forums of Parliamentarians). The IEUFP, will provide a structured forum to engage Parliamentarians from both sides in various fields and different levels to make fresh contributions to the growth of the bilateral relations. Welcoming the formation of the IEUFP, Mr Natwar Singh highlighted the criticality of the Forum saying, "Greater understanding of issues concerning this region by members of the European Parliament is important to shape and guide our future endeavours. Similarly, it is important that our Members of Parliament have a deeper knowledge of issues related to the EU specially those with direct impact on India's trade and economic issues". Enhanced interaction between the two parliaments, he conveyed, would not only help us better understand each other's point of view, but also impart greater understanding of each others' working methods and scope of responsibilities. Mr Singh further expressed the need to "change gear" in order to achieve the optimum potential of the India-EU partnership. To this effect, he said, "Clearly, it is important to set up appropriate mechanisms to foster growing context between the EU and a vibrant, creative and resurgent India." He endorsed the formation of the IEUFP as a step in the right direction. While trade has been the driving force in deepening and strengthening the India-EU relationship, in recent times, the relationship has also assumed strategic depth and maturity with the enhancement of strategic dialogue. The 5th India-EU Summit at The Hague in November 2004 had formally launched the India-EU Strategic Partnership which is the sixth such partnership that the EU has instituted, the others being with the US, Japan, Canada, China and Russia. With the bilateral relations assuming new vigor and dynamism, the Forum aims to carry the momentum of the relationship forward by providing uninterrupted channel of communication. Mr. Dinesh Trivedi, lauded FICCI's initiative in bringing the Parliamentarians on both sides on a single platform. He said "India-EU relationship has evolved from the years of economic development and cooperation to broad based engagements on wide range of issues, from globalization to terrorism, whether it is energy or environment EU and India have always worked together." He emphasized that the IEUFP will serve as a platform to harness the untapped potential of the India-EU relationship. Mr. Onkar S. Kanwar, in his welcome address, pointed out, "Synergy between EU and India in multiple dimensions is not only good for each other, but fundamentally necessary for the new world order." Further, he described the signing of the India-EU strategic agreement as a proof of the commitment on both sides to take our partnership and relationship to a new trajectory. More intimate contact among parliamentarians, established through the formation of IEUFP, will be one more channel for strengthening EU investments into India, he said. In her direct address from Birmingham Ms. Neena Gill, Member of the European Union Parliament & Chairperson of the South Asia Delegation in the EU Parliament, essed optimism at the launch of the IEUFP, and pledged her full support. She said, "I hope we will be able to set up a rolling programme of dialogue on the issues of IT, new information technology, bio-tech and agriculture. I am anticipating great opportunities for this forum to facilitate open dialogue on key issues, to help us agree on a framework to work together and learn from each other." H.E. Francisco Da Camara Gomes spoke of the necessity of having a dynamic and pro-active parliamentarian dialogue between the two largest democratic entities in the world. He expressed his belief that the IEUFP would serve as an ideal medium for the fulfillment of the goals of this strategic partnership. In his concluding remarks, Mr Kharshiing observed "When we think of the EU and India we cannot but think of the similarities and the areas where we can cooperate, we have great democracies, large trading blocks, huge markets, rule of law, efficient banking systems, free and fair elections, a vibrant and strong media, striving for peace and reconciliation. He further said, "Of course, there are differences too, we have a lot to learn from the EU and I hope there are some things that you can learn from us." The ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries symbolized the official inauguration of the India-European Union Forum of Parliamentarians and served to reaffirm our commitment to broaden and deepen the bilateral relationship by establishing substantial parliamentarian links. The IEUFP is supported by the Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) - an organization
founded by Mahatama Gandhi 75 years ago. It is India's leading apex
chamber of the country representing more than two lakhs industries
and business organizations in India.
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