(a) Whether some members of the EU visited India recently;
(b) If so, the details of discussions held and the outcome thereof especially on the Kashmir issue;
(c) Whether the EU have submitted their proposal for a strategic partnership with India;
(d) If so, the salient features thereof; and
(e) The extent to which economic cooperation with the EU has been strengthened by the above visit?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a)&(b) The India-EU Round Table, a forum for civil society dialogue between India and the European Union, met in Srinagar for its 7th meeting from 17th - 20th June 2004. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation to increase tourism and to promote trade and sustainable development. The EU side was extensively briefed on our core concerns in the context of Jammu & Kashmir.
(c)&(d) The European Commission`s recent Strategy Paper on India-EU relations seeks to comprehensively enhance India-EU relations in many areas of mutual interest including trade and economic relations..
e) The recommendations emanating from the Round Table meeting would be carefully considered by both sides so as to enhance economic cooperation with EU.