Activities of Vangelis MEIMARAKIS related to 2023/2128(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU-India relations (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-India relations
Amendments (24)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
– having regard to India’s G-20 presidency which started on 1 December 2022,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in 2022, the EU and India marked the 60th anniversary of their bilateral partnership; whereas this partnership has gained momentum in recent years but has not yet reached its full potential, reflecting renewed political will to strengthen its strategic dimensions across a number of sectors and policy areas, reflecting India’s rising geopolitical power and shared democratic values;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the EU and India, as the world’s two largest democracies, share strong political, economic, social and cultural ties; whereas the EU and India affirm their determination to preserve and promote effective multilateralism and a rules-based multilateral order; whereas bilateral relations have not yet reached their full potential and require further political engagement;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the EU and India jointly consider the following as priority areas of cooperation: foreign and security policy, environment and climate change, digitalisation, sustainable development, connectivity, research and development;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas India’s regional and global importance and relevance are growing as it is positioning itself as a regional economic and military power and strengthening partnerships and boosting economic and defence ties in particular across Southeast Asia; whereas through its strategic framework vested in its Global Strategy, its Strategy on India, its Strategy for EU- Asia Connectivity and the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the EU recognises India’s growing geostrategic importance and underlines the need to cooperate on the global arena and converge on a common global agenda;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas India is estimated to have become the most populous country in the world, surpassing the People’s Republic of China in 2023;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) continue to promote and fully implement the EU Strategy on India of 2018 and the EU-India Roadmap to 2025 in close coordination with Member States’ own actions to actively engage with India;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) consolidate the EU’s public diplomacy efforts to improve mutual understanding between the EU, its Member States and India in order to help to address the knowledge deficit on both sides and reinforce mutual awareness, involving academia and think-tanks;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) further enhance the growing cooperation and promote greater synergies in foreign and security policy through the existing dialogue mechanisms and within fora established by the EU-India Roadmap to 2025 in line with the EU’s renewed commitment to diversify relations in the Indo-Pacific, a region exposed to China’s increasingly assertive posture in and around the South China Sea;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) hold the bilateral security dialogues on an annual basis, and with greater involvement of EU Member States;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) expand EU-India cooperation on maritime security as an area of considerable potential; advocate for the deepening and broadening of cooperation between the EU and India in the realm of maritime security, recognizing the significant untapped potential in this domain; emphasize the importance of joint efforts to safeguard maritime routes, counter piracy, protect against illegal fishing, and address maritime threats;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) strengthen cooperation and work towards tangible outcomes on shared objectives of non-proliferation and disarmament, maritime security, counter- terrorism, including anti-money- laundering and counter-terrorism financing, and cyber-security;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)
(gb) emphasise that greater engagement between the EU and India in security and defence contributes to promoting shared security, stability and peaceful development in the Indo-Pacific; seek to coordinate, where appropriate, EU and Indian policies on the Indo-Pacific and expand areas of common interest in the region; underline that preserving peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region remains of critical importance to the EU and its member states; encourage further common reading of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)
(gc) recall that the Indo-Pacific is a region of strategic importance to the EU, with over one third of all European exports going to the region and a majority of those transiting through the sea lanes of in the Indian and Pacific Oceans; stress that the EU is dependent on unimpeded maritime highways that pass through the Indo-Pacific and has therefore a clear interest in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean region; recall that India has defined the Indo- Pacific region as the area spanning from the shores of Africa to that of the Americas therefore covering both the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, seeing itself as the centre of the Indian Ocean and positioning itself as an integral part of the regional architecture, while signalling its readiness to engage with global norms;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g d (new)
(gd) take note that as part of its efforts to increase its regional clout, India has sought to diversify partnerships and has upgraded relations with Japan, Australia, France and ASEAN in the economic, security, maritime and diplomatic fields, seeking further integration with Southeast Asia and deepening strategic cooperation in order to enhance common understanding of the region’s security challenges; welcome India’s efforts to increase its own engagement to enhance maritime domain awareness of the Indian Ocean region through, for example, the establishment and subsequent expansion of Coastal Radar Surveillance Systems; welcome India’s efforts to position itself as a key security partner in the Indian Ocean and its desire to play a bigger role in the region;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) engage in a discussion on a reform of the UN Security Council and working methods and support India’s bid for permanent membership of the reformed UN Security Council;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point h b (new)
(hb) promote joint action to coordinate development and humanitarian aid, strengthen connectivity and develop infrastructure in the Global South, as well as in strengthening the democratic processes and countering authoritarian trends and all kinds of extremism;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) continue to monitor closely the worrying situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, in particular the respect for the fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people; remain committed to supporting stability and de-escalation between India and Pakistan;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(ka) renew EU efforts for restoration of good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan, remains committed to supporting stability and de-escalation between the two neighbours; believes that a rapprochement between India and Pakistan is only possible on the basis of the principles of international law, through a comprehensive dialogue and a step-by-step approach;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) monitor closely the fragile situation around the unresolved border dispute between India and China, two nuclear powers ; note with concern the permanent tension in relations between India and China, due to unresolved border disputes, but also China’s expansive policy and substantial ongoing military build-up as well as its assertive policy in the South China Sea; welcome therefore India’s effort to contribute to regional stability in the face of rising Chinese assertiveness by engaging with the region along the norms of the rules-based international order;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) continue to express concern about India’s Citizenship Amendment Act; encourage India to guarantee the right to freely practice the religion of one’s choice enshrined in Article 25 of its constitution; recognise that Muslims, Christians and other religious minorities are equal in dignity and rights before the law; counter and condemn hate speech;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
(qa) promote freedom of expression and media freedom; emphasize the importance of upholding freedom of expression and media freedom in India; remind India of its constitutional obligation to protect journalists and media professionals and create an environment conducive to diverse and independent journalism;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q b (new)
(qb) highlight the value of promoting diversity and inclusivity in Indian society, with a focus on eliminating discrimination based on gender, religion, caste, and ethnicity;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z
Paragraph 1 – point z
(z) invite India to join the EU in leading the global conversation on the safe and ethical use of artificial intelligence and to advance human-rights based artificial intelligence; encourage collaborative efforts to set international standards and guidelines for responsible AI deployment that prioritize human rights and ethical considerations;