Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s daylong visit here to take part in the 11th India-European Union Summit, was originally aimed at how best to enhance and broaden trade ties between the two sides, but surprisingly, there was a shift in the pre-determined narrative, and the focus moved onto international terrorism, and how India, which has faced the brunt of this menace, could provide the expertise to counter it.
 
When Dr. Singh departed for Brussels, it was a given in Indian media circles that New Delhi had put all drawing pins in place to seal a much awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union, but going by the Joint Statement and the Joint Declaration on International Terrorism issued after the summit, the signing of an FTA with the EU continues to remain a distant goal, has fallen apart, and is unlikely to see the light of day before the middle of 2011.

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): India and the European Union (EU) on Friday issued a Joint Declaration on International Terrorism, in which leaders of both sides agreed to take the political dialogue on this issue forward.
 
According to the declaration, the two sides will continue to discuss counter terrorism cooperation within their security dialogue parameters, and encourage all countries to deny safe haven to terrorists and to dismantle terror infrastructure on the territories under their control.
 
It was also agreed to boost law enforcement and police cooperation by identifying, including through seminars, areas of cooperation with respect to the designated agencies, according to their respective competencies.

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): India and the European Union on Friday took steps to enhance cultural ties between the two regions through a joint declaration to reinforce cooperation and dialogue in the field of culture.
 
Jawhar Sircar, India’s Culture Secretary and Jan Truszczynski, the European Union’s Director-General for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, signed an agreement to this effect.
 
The agreement was signed on behalf of the European Commission and the Indian Government.
 
 

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): Recognizing the important implications of the movement of people for India and EU, leaders of the two sides agreed here on Friday to explore initiatives that could lead to a regular, comprehensive and structured dialogue on migration issues, with a view to deepening cooperation in this field.
 
The agreement was reached during the 11th EU-India Summit.
 
Both sides also reiterated their joint commitment to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), with an emphasis on health and education and a special focus on vocational training.  

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): Taking part in the 11th EU-India Summit here on Friday, leaders of EU and India expressed satisfaction with the recent progress in negotiations on a maritime transport agreement and called for the continuation of the negotiations aiming at the conclusion of a mutually beneficial agreement.
 
They also called for the early implementation of the civil aviation agreement.
 
In the field of space, leaders of the two sides acknowledged the active cooperation pursued by space agencies and industries of the two sides for developing, launching and operating earth observation and communication satellites through appropriate bilateral relations. 
 
 

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): India and the European Union issued a joint statement after the 11th EU-India Summit here on Friday in which they reiterated their commitment to bilding on the 2008 EU-India Joint Work Programme on energy, clean development and climate change.
 
Leaders of the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in these fields, with a view to enhancing energy security, energy efficiency and promoting the development of renewable energy.
 

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): India and the European Union issued a joint statement after the 11th EU-India Summit here on Friday in which they reiterated their commitment to share common values relating to democracy, rule of law, civil liberties and respect for human rights, and agreed to reinforce their strategic partnership.
 
India represented by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the European Union, represented by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission, agreed to work for meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
 

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): Leaders of the European Union (EU) and India on Friday reiterated their common interest in creating a stable, peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan, free from terrorism, as well as their support to the Kabul Process, which seeks to build upon broad international partnership towards further Afghan responsibility and ownership in security, governance and development.
 
Underlining the need for more effective regional cooperation for the stabilisation of Afghanistan through a joint statement issued here after the daylong 11th EU-India Summit on Friday, India and EU leaders expressed their continued commitment to an ongoing dialogue to this end.
 

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): Leaders of India and the European Union (EU) on Friday welcomed the agreement on reform in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached at Seoul, which they hoped would strengthen the legitimacy of the IMF and increase the involvement of emerging economies in global economic governance.
 
A joint statement issued on behalf of the two sides taking part in the 11th EU-India Summit here, also said that the leaders welcomed the commitments made at the G-20 Seoul Summit to promptly bring the Doha Development Round to an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced conclusion in 2011, consistent with the mandate of the Doha Development Round and built on the progress already achieved.

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): The European Union and India on Friday voiced their firm resolve to continue working for an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced post 2012 agreement as soon as possible based on the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): The European Union (EU) and India on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to global and non-discriminatory disarmament and to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

Brussels, Dec. 10 (ANI): The president of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, on Friday, expressed satisfaction with both the substance and the quality of discussions and decisions taken at the 11th EU-India Summit held here with an Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
 
Praising Dr. Singh’s leadership and vision, Rompuy said both sides had a very intense and productive plenary session during which they reviewed the whole spectrum of bilateral, regional and global issues.
 
He said the two sides had accepted that there was enormous potential for bilateral relations to grow, and the necessity of bring the strategic partnership launched in 2004 to a higher level.
 

Brussels, Dec.10 (ANI): Recognizing that substantive progress has been made in several areas of bilateral cooperation, India and the European Union  (EU) on Friday agreed to expedite the process of concluding Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations by the spring of 2011.
 
Briefing media here after the end of the daylong 11th EU-India Summit here, India’s Commerce Secretary, Rahul Khullar, said that both sides have agreed to intensify work on all pending areas and to meet at the chief negotiators level on at least a monthly basis.
 
Khullar revealed that he would have a meeting with the EU’s Director-General of Trade in early 2011, and added that a ministerial meeting would take place in March 2011.