Schockenhoff Calls for Improved Trade, Political and Technological Cooperation Between India and EU

August 22, 2012

New Delhi: India has enormous global economic, political and strategic potential which must be harnessed by the European Union (EU) through improved trade and political and technological cooperation, said Dr Andreas Schockenhoff, Member of German Bundestag (German Parliament) and Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU- Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag for Foreign Affairs, Affairs of the European Union and Defence Policy. Dr Schockenhoff was delivering a talk on the ‘Future Foreign Policy and Strategic Security Challenges for Germany and Europe’ at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.

Highlighting political governance of European market and currency and increased cooperation and integration of military capability as the two pillars of European reforms, Dr Schockenhoff said that Europe needs its own strong and credible defence and security policy. Given the financial constraint across the Eurozone, the ability to take effective action in the real of security policy can only be guaranteed through closer military cooperation and integration.

Reflecting on the current Euro crisis, he insisted that it is not just a currency crisis, but also a debt crisis of national budgets. There is one market, one currency but many fiscal and social policies and different forms of public spending. The big challenge is to achieve economic and political integration in Europe.

He added that following two centuries of division and two devastating wars, EU has realised that the power and strength of a country in Europe does not depend on predominance or hegemony in the region, but on its capacity to integrate in European trans-national structures. The continent represents 40 per cent of global trade, 20 pr cent of global production and by the end of this century, will represent less than 5 per cent of the global population. Therefore, more political integration is a question of political and societal survival.

In his talk, Dr Schockenhoff threw light on EU’s role in global affairs. He highlighted EU’s transformation partnership with Tunisia and Egypt, which is more credible than the previous EU neighbourhood policy, aiming to promote rule of law, spread of democracy and governance.

EU remains committed to the Syria’s struggle for freedom, democracy and dignity, he stated, adding that Russia and China must end their support for the Syrian dictatorial regime and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must condemn and isolate the regime.

On Iran-Israel conflict, he said that the former must take urgent steps to meet the concerns of the international community about its nuclear programme and meet its international nuclear obligations. Dr Schockenhoff urged for a need to make Iran feel the impact of stringent sanctions to initiate effective negotiations.

Speaking about the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, he stated that EU is committed to the transition process in the country as mentioned in the NATO Lisbon Summit of 2010 and reconfirmed in the NATO summit in Chicago in 2012.

Earlier, Distinguished Fellow, IDSA and chair for the discussion, Lt. General (Retd.) Satish Nambiar, said That EU is classical model on good management of its borders and India can learn from it.

Media Coverage