Objectives

The relations between India and the European Union (EU) are moving into a new era and are poised for a giant leap in the 21st Century. Today, both the entities have developed a close partnership that covers key areas such as political relations, trade and investment, economic and development cooperation and other matters underpinned by a common understanding on a wide range of political issues. There is also a strong supporting cultural and social interrelationship encompassing many sectors and levels of both societies. In consequence, India and the European Union are committed to an equal and dynamic dialogue on all subjects of interest and concern to them as major entities in their own regions, and as global actors on the world stage.

Synergy between India and the European Union in multiple dimension is not only good for each other but more importantly necessary for the new world order. It is in this context that the formation of the India-European Union Forum of Parliamentarians (IEUFP) is a significant development. The Forum, a powerful group of prominent Parliamentarians, will provide a basis for a direct and close interaction between the political leaders of India and the European Union. Such inter-Parliamentarian linkages would help exploit the potential that exists between the two entities.

Today, EU Parliament directly represents more than 450 million people from 25 nations of Europe. The Indian Parliament represents over a billion people. A renaissance is underway in India, not only in business but in art, culture, films, animation, theatre. All of these dimensions will be facilitated by one more link-direct Parliamentian-to-Parliamentian interaction.

Exchanges and cooperation between the Parliamentarians of India and the EU will undoubtedly play a unique role in boosting India-EU cooperation. It is, therefore, significant that the lawmakers of India and the EU conduct direct dialogue and communication to reinforce bilateral relations and mutual understanding. In this regard, the IEUFP will provide an important platform for exchange of information and ideas between Parliamentarians from both sides. It will serve to inform, discuss and debate most candidly on common problems and concerns as well as differences to facilitate the strengthening of the partnership at every level.

The IEUFP is the fourth among other successful Forums of Parliamentarians- India-U.S Forum of Parliamentarians (IUFP), Indo-British Forum of Parliamentarians (IBFP) Indo-German Forum of Parliamentarians (IGFP) and India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians (IJFP)- all of which are actively supported by FICCI.