Summary

International Relations Class 23

BRIEF DISCUSSION ON HOW TO MAKE NOTES.

EUROPEAN UNION (EU) (05:24 PM)

From Prelims perspective- Treaties and structure.
From Mains perspective- India Eu relations.
Treaty of Paris in 1951-
It led to the formation of the Europen Coal and Steel Community.
Its member countries were Italy, Germany + Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg).
The Treaty of Rome in 1957, led to the creation of the European Economic Community and European Atomic Energy Community.
In 1967, ECSC+ EEC+ Euratom was merged to form the European Community (it has a parliament, where indirect election was held).
In 1979, direct elections to the European Parliament were introduced.
In 1986, the Single European Act was enacted and the aim was to create a single European market by harmonizing national regulations, within 6 years.
In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty entered into force and it led to the creation of the EU.
It grants European Citizenship to the citizens of EU member countries.
This treaty prepares for a monetary union.
It led to the creation of the Eurozone and the European Central Bank.
Presently, 19 countries, plus Croatia are part of the Eurozone.
Lisbon Treaty-
Constitutional treaty, enacted in 2007.
It is the Lisbon Treaty that comprises the exit clause.
Schenghen agreement- led to the creation of the Schenghen area.
Schengen area is a zone of Visa-free travel.
It comprises 23 EU countries and 4 non-EU countries.
A recent country to join is Croatia.

STRUCTURE OF THE EU (05:41 PM)

Comprises of 7 permanent bodies (European Council+ Council of EU+ European Commission+ European Parliament+ European Court of Justice+ European Central Bank+ European Court of Auditors).
European Council-
It will give general political direction to the EU and set broad priorities for the EU
It does not adopt laws except for possible EU treaty amendments.
It is headed by the President who is elected for 2 and half years and the term is renewable only once.
Council of EU-
It is involved in the Council of the EU.
Minister in each member country upholds the interest of their country.
It is involved in limited law-making along with the European Parliament.
European Commission-
It is the main executive body.
It is headed by a college of commissioners; one commissioner each from one member country.
It performs multiple functions like-
It uses its right of initiative to put forward proposals for new laws which are scrutinized and adopted by the European Parliament and Council of EU.
It manages EU budgets.
It ensures that the countries abide by the various EU laws.
It negotiates on behalf of the EU on international platforms.
European Parliament-
It comprises 705 members and seats are allocated to the countries, in proportion to their population sizes.
MEPs are elected by direct election for 5-year terms based on proportional representation.
Functions-
Representative of all the EU country citizens.
It adopts European laws and approves the EU budget.

INDIA-EU RELATIONS (06:02 PM)

Timeline-
2000- first India-EU Annual Summits.
2004- India-EU entered into a Strategic partnership agreement.
2020- India-EU Strategic partnership; Roadmap to 2025 was adopted.
May 2021- EU+ 27 Meeting with India was organized.
In which all 27 EU member states participated along with the President of the European Council and European Commission.
It is the second such meeting organized by the EU, the first such meeting was organized with the US.
Importance of EU-
EU is among the top 5 trading partners of India.
The EU is also 2nd biggest export destination for Indian exports.
Cooperation on global issues- The EU is taking the lead in designing global rules in various new fields such as laws to protect personal data, global rules for ethical human-centric use of artificial intelligence, etc.
Counter China- it has the economic and technological heft to counter China.
Geopolitical importance- to support India's candidature as a permanent member of the UNSC.
Various Areas of Cooperation (06:25 PM)
Free Trade Negotiation -
In 2007 negotiations began for the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).
A 2-year limit was set to complete the negotiations.
However, the negotiations could not be completed and in 2013, these negotiations were suspended.
Reasons- disagreement over market access and movement of professionals.
In June 2022, India-EU resumed FDA negotiations.
Both sides aim for the agreement to be broad-based, balanced, comprehensive, and based on principles of fairness and reciprocity.
Connectivity partnership-
It focuses on enhancing digital, energy, transport, and people-to-people connectivity.
It would use both public and private funding for connectivity projects.
Under it, both seek early 5G rollout, which would be particularly used for rural development.
The connectivity partnership would adhere to the principles of the Paris Agreement, SDG goals, Convention on biodiversity, ILO conventions, etc.
The EU has recognized India as a sustainable development partner to jointly support connectivity initiatives in third countries such as in Africa, Central Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.
It is viewed as counter to China's BRI.
Recently the IMEC corridor was announced.
Cooperation in technology-
On artificial technology, on quantum and high-performance computing.
Cooperation in climate change- Both India and the EU were instrumental in the ratification of the Paris Agreement.
Both actively support India and France cofounded ISA.
The EU has announced its decision to join CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure).
The EU like India has been a responsible partner in climate change diplomacy.
Liberal Multilateral World Order-
Both share the same multilateralist DNA.
Both have stakes in the liberal multilateral order and protect the global commons, such as the internet, global trade, and freedom of navigation and both are supportive of WTO.
Both support nuclear non-proliferation.
Covid 19 Pandemic-
Prompt assistance was provided to India by the EU and its member countries during the second wave of the pandemic.
India has requested the EU for its support on its joint proposal with South Africa for TRIPS waiver on vaccine production-related productions in the WTO.

INDIA-EU AS NATURAL PARTNERS (06:48 PM)

In 2018, the EU recognized India as its natural partner.
Reasons-
Both believe in the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and protection of Human rights, as the best way to govern a country.
At the global level, both believe in multilateralism, rules-based global order, etc.
However, recently India-EU relations were restricted to economic cooperation.
It is only recently that the EU has given a push toward strategic cooperation with India.
Reasons-
1. Rise of China- growing Chinese presence in South Asia, Eurasia, and Europe.
Chinese warships have visited the Greek port of Piraeus.
One-tenth of European port capacity is under Chinese control including in Spain and Belgium.
Italy a G-7 country has also joined China's BRI.
2. Brexit and emerging weakness in its TransAtlantic ties with the US.
Especially during the Trump administration the US became extremely protectionist and adopted the America First policy, reducing its commitment world over
Even recently, the EU has been dissatisfied with the growing unilateralism of the US; be it the US's sudden withdrawal from the Iranian Nuclear deal or its unilateral sanctions.
It is in this context EU was in search of new allies.
Also for India UK was its traditional gateway to the EU.
India also recognizes that its economic growth depends on the continued growth and internal stability of the EU.
3. Threat to Liberal Multilateral World Order-
The multilateral organizations such as the UN, IMF, WB, and WTO are in need of reform.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recently described them as reflecting 'yesterday's world'.
The US has stopped appointments to WTO Appealte body, etc.

CHALLENGES IN INDIA-EU RELATIONS (07:18 PM)

Divergent positions on Russia-Ukrain war.
Russia is a time-tested friend of India.
New Delhi has not joined the West in sanctioning Russia.
Issues in FTA- despite efforts since 2007, India and the EU have not been able to conclude an FTA.
The EU remains critical of human rights issues in India.
The EU is critical of the human rights protection of Dalits, religious minorities, etc. in India.
They have been wary of the closure of Amnesty International offices in India.
The EU is critical of the right to freedom of speech of the press in India.
And recently they have been critical of GoI's handling of the Manipur crisis.
Way Forward:
Earliest conclusion of FTA.
Explore the potential of pharmaceutical trades.
India is one of the leading producers and suppliers of generic drugs to the EU.
The EU is becoming increasingly wary of the USA's policy on the Russia-Ukrain war, as well as its continued sanctions against Russia.
* India Nordic Summit- 2nd summit took place in May 2022.
Nordic = Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland.

G-20 (07:30 PM)

Informal group, no permanent Secretariate.
Declaration at the end of the summit is not automatically enforceable.
Three tracks:
Finance Track- Finance bank+ Central Bank.
4 times/year.
Official track.
Sherpa Tarck- to represent the country's leadership.
Official track.
Civil Track- civil society organization meets, an unofficial track.
* Refer to August Current Affair G-20 Outcome.

DIASPORA (07:44 PM)

PIOs+ NRIs comprises diaspora.
Dec. 2016, India's diaspora comprises 31 Million people.
17 Million were NRIs.
13 Million were PIOs.
Indian Diaspora lives across 163 countries.
PM Nehru- Atal Bihari Government (active engagement with Indian Diaspora).
Why important- Investment source, technology transfer, Caucasus/ PGs in the home country to pursue India-friendly foreign policy, source of soft power for India (law-abiding citizens, high achievers), to give a push for India's membership for UNSCs
Challenges with engaging with Diaspora- support neither automatic nor continuous, their interest may not align with India's interests, support for anti-national activities in India, repatriation and rescue of Indians stuck abroad and related issues of security and financial challenges for India, balancing need and expectations of heterogeneous diaspora, Pravasi Bharat Divas criticizes to be a show-off of very high achieving section, while the majority is left out and ignored, etc.

THE SYLLABUS OF IR IS COMPLETED.