India in the 21st century: Perspectives

Speakers:
K. Kasturirangan, Member of the Indian Parliament
Dinesh Trivedi, Member of the Indian Parliament
Tariq Anwar, Member of the Indian Parliament
Lakshman Singh, Member of the Indian Parliament
Prenet Kaur, Member of the Indian Parliament  

Chair: Michael Emerson, CEPS Senior Fellow, Head of the Neighbourhood Policy Unit  

Date: 20 September 2007

On 20 September 2007, a delegation of Indian parliamentarians visited CEPS to participate in a roundtable discussion on “India in the 21th century: Perspectives”. The need for a stronger collaboration between the European Union and India was emphasised in several areas. In the field of education, for example, efforts should e made to obtain literacy for all social levels in India. Also, better health services and the efficient use of sustainable energies must be achieved. For reaching these goals, a close collaboration with the European Union is vital. The delegates expressed their wish to co-operate with the EU and the whole world to fight the two main problems facing India: poverty and terrorism.
 
In his opening remarks, Dinesh Trivedi said that the Indian economy is opening up and becoming integrated. Concerning the need for a new approach on energy resources, the Indian parliament members clearly underlined their wish to collaborate closer with the European Union to increasingly use renewable energy sources in India.
According to the Indian discussants, India sets a good example for its neighbouring countries on how democracy can function. The question was asked whether the EU model be taken over by India and its neighbouring countries. But before that could happen, a precondition is that all neighbouring countries of India would become democracies. One of India's dreams is to develop a common market with free movement of goods and persons with its neighbouring countries.
 
When the talk turned to the issue of combatting terrorism, the Indian guests stated that, for them, terrorism has nothing to do with religion. Muslims in India are fully integrated into the Indian population and according to the Indian delegates every one of them is fighting terrorism as much as any non-Muslim. Different religions have co-existed in India for many generations.
 
Dinesh Trivedi raised the question of how to reinforce the exchange of researchers and specialists between India and the EU? Michael Emerson mentioned two possibilities to achieve this goal: 1) an increase of academic exchanges, and 2) stronger links between think tanks in the EU and in India.
The Indian delegates concluded with the remark that India and the EU have a lot to give to each other. The EU could support India in terms of establishing new technologies for sustainable energy use and an improved health service system. The Indian's can offer highly qualified graduates in the field of technology.