EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

On 22^nd February, 2022, the European Union (EU) organised the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

• This event was organised on the occasion of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and following the adoption, in September 2021, of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Highlights of India’s Address

Indo-Pacific: The Indo-Pacific is at the heart of the multipolarity and rebalancing that characterises contemporary changes.

• But it is essential that greater power and stronger capabilities lead to responsibility and restraint.
• India highlighted the significance of respect for international law, territorial integrity and sovereignty. It called for economics free of coercion and politics free from the threat or the use of force.

EU’s Role: With its economic heft and expertise, the EU can also promote economic development, infrastructure, connectivity, digital transformation, climate change, biodiversity and human-centric concerns like health, besides security. For these reasons, India said, it welcomes EU’s Global Gateway.

Regional Culture: Countries with shared values and vision can better ensure a regional culture of working together; one in which all nations, irrespective of size, have sovereign options and make their own choices. That is the essence of shared endeavours.

EU’s strategy is consistent with India’s vision of a free, open, balanced and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, anchored in ASEAN centrality.

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: India’s approach is broad-based and emphasises multilateralism, plurilateralism and collective action.

These are combined in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative launched by India at the East Asia Summit in 2019. India appreciated that France, Australia, Indonesia and Japan chair one pillar each.

Security: In security, France is already among India’s foremost partners. With EU too, India now has an enhanced partnership and operational level of access.

Connectivity: India’s Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the EU-India Connectivity Partnership have convergence with the Global Gateway.