LONDON: Apart from calling on the Indian government to end hostilities in Manipur and protect Christians in the region in their resolution adopted Thursday, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also warned that India’s trade with the EU could be affected if India does not respect human rights.
The European Parliament, in a press release published after the motion on Manipur was passed, said under the sub-heading “Parliament demands Indian authorities put an end to ethnic and religious violence” that “Parliament reiterates its call for human rights to be integrated into all areas of the EU-India partnership, including in trade.”
On June 17, 2022, the EU relaunched negotiations with India for a free trade agreement and launched separate negotiations for an investment protection agreement and an agreement on geographical indications (GIs). The trade negotiations aim to remove barriers and help EU firms, especially smaller ones, to export more.
French MEP Pierre Larrouturou, the Manipur resolution text’s chief negotiator, said during the parliamentary debate on the resolution: “The European Parliament has to demand that respect for human rights is fully included in the EU-India partnership, including in trade relations — that is black and white in our text. We need to ensure that all our leaders talk about human rights when they visit India. No one is proposing breaking off relations with India. It is a great democracy but has to be better.”
Finnish MEP Alviina Alametsä said: “The EU and India have to make human rights and democracy a fundamental part of their partnership in all regards, including trade.”
“The EU holds a powerful tool in trade policy, and we demand the integration of human rights into our EU-India partnership,” said Czech MEP Michaela Šojdrová.
Netherlands MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen said the resolution called on India to end ethnic and religious violence and end Hindu extremism. “Without iron-clad guarantees in this area then we cannot talk about a new trade deal with India,” he said.
“Enough of silent diplomacy: trade and political relations must be tied to compliance to human rights,” demanded Spanish MEP Miguel Urbán Crespo.
EU finance commissioner Mairead McGuinness, responding to the debate, avoided criticising India, saying: “The Indian authorities have taken a number of measures to address this very tense situation. A commission of inquiry has been set up … a peace committee has been established… The EU is ready to support our Indian friends, if requested, in their efforts towards rebuilding peace and trust in Manipur.”
The European Parliament, in a press release published after the motion on Manipur was passed, said under the sub-heading “Parliament demands Indian authorities put an end to ethnic and religious violence” that “Parliament reiterates its call for human rights to be integrated into all areas of the EU-India partnership, including in trade.”
On June 17, 2022, the EU relaunched negotiations with India for a free trade agreement and launched separate negotiations for an investment protection agreement and an agreement on geographical indications (GIs). The trade negotiations aim to remove barriers and help EU firms, especially smaller ones, to export more.
French MEP Pierre Larrouturou, the Manipur resolution text’s chief negotiator, said during the parliamentary debate on the resolution: “The European Parliament has to demand that respect for human rights is fully included in the EU-India partnership, including in trade relations — that is black and white in our text. We need to ensure that all our leaders talk about human rights when they visit India. No one is proposing breaking off relations with India. It is a great democracy but has to be better.”
Finnish MEP Alviina Alametsä said: “The EU and India have to make human rights and democracy a fundamental part of their partnership in all regards, including trade.”
“The EU holds a powerful tool in trade policy, and we demand the integration of human rights into our EU-India partnership,” said Czech MEP Michaela Šojdrová.
Netherlands MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen said the resolution called on India to end ethnic and religious violence and end Hindu extremism. “Without iron-clad guarantees in this area then we cannot talk about a new trade deal with India,” he said.
“Enough of silent diplomacy: trade and political relations must be tied to compliance to human rights,” demanded Spanish MEP Miguel Urbán Crespo.
EU finance commissioner Mairead McGuinness, responding to the debate, avoided criticising India, saying: “The Indian authorities have taken a number of measures to address this very tense situation. A commission of inquiry has been set up … a peace committee has been established… The EU is ready to support our Indian friends, if requested, in their efforts towards rebuilding peace and trust in Manipur.”