A partnership between India and the European Union is crucial for the creation of guardrails for global growth and technological advancement. It is vital for stability, security and peace, said former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra.

Vohra, who was the first co-chair of India-EU roundtable (2001-2008), was speaking at the 2nd edition of the seminar hosted by India International Centre and Bruegel, a think-tank from Europe, here. The two-day seminar opened today to discuss pressing common priorities of India and the EU such as trade, economic cooperation, climate change, energy, technology and the AI.

India and the EU have a convergence of interests over democracy, effective multilateralism and a rule-based order, Vohra said, adding that the relationship had evolved organically from a buyer-seller arrangement to a close and comprehensive partnership. “We have evolved to a trustworthy understanding of each other’s issues,” he said.

The Brexit and Covid pandemic exposed Europe’s vulnerability. “India can be an eminently dependable partner,” Vohra suggested at the event attended by former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, Chairman of Bruegel Erkki Liikanen and Director Bruegel Jeromin Zettelmeyer. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered the keynote address.

The impending free-trade agreement between India and the EU has seen nine rounds of negotiations. “Both sides remain committed and have announced a six-point plan for their economic partnership,” Vohra said, adding that the trade pact must be balanced and equally advantageous to both sides.

The new EU leadership is equally keen to take its partnership with India to its full potential. India and EU are natural partners in a multipolar world, said Vohra, citing defence, digital technology, space, nuclear cooperation, health, education and agriculture as the key sectors for cooperation.

The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific have set the rules for creating a better world, he added.

Vohra recollected how the India-EU roundtable fostered a deeper understanding. “We took up contemporary issues that had social and economic aspects, besides science and technology, research and the successful IT sector of India. All recommendations received due recognition of the governments,” Vohra said.

The seminar will discuss key issues, including the share of India and the EU in the global GDP. lndia’s exports amount to 2.52 per cent of the global total, while the European Union’s accounts for 16 per cent of world imports and exports.