Int. Conference India and the EU in the Indo-Pacific: Strategies, Opportunities, and Challenges

KEY TAKE-AWAYS:

Inaugural and Keynote Address 

• The Indo-Pacific Region has witnessed a seismic shift in the global economic and political landscape, with the centre of gravity steadily moving toward this dynamic and diverse region.
• The expansion of economic and technological cooperation between the EU and India is mutually beneficial. 
• In a way that benefits all people, India and the EU need to figure out a framework that creates successful collaborative networks.
• Significant role of universities to nurture and engage young minds to develop international relations and strategies.
• Imperative to bolster India-EU ties on maritime security, counterterrorism, and crisis management. India has seen as a significant actor in building a "network of partnerships" in the Indian Ocean region.

Geopolitical and Geoeconomic Contours of India-EU Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Trade, Connectivity and Beyond

• In geopolitical terms, the countries of the Indo-Pacific are home to four of the largest economies, and among the world’s ten largest economies. The concept is much more complex and incrementally gaining importance and recognition in the world. India-EU must begin to think how they will deal with the challenges faced in this region. 
• It is imperative to understand and address the differences in the European and Indian definition and perspective of the Indo-Pacific that has been determined by their relationship with China.
• The adoption of EU and its member states of the Indo-Pacific strategy to deal with China and to take advantage of new economic and other opportunities.

Towards Green Transition: India-EU on Climate Change in the Indo-Pacific

• For a green transition from a futuristic strategy lens, it is critical to ensure that critical materials or rarer materials do not undergo resource colonialism.
• To enable practical green transition, India-EU need to show the policymakers that there are advantages to green transition economically.
• The Indo-Pacific is a hotbed of non-traditional security threats, and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with a low economic status are the most vulnerable to climate change.
• The EU is concerned about the regulatory framework for the green energy transition, but what is more important for on-the-ground impact is a financial commitment for the conversation of energy, addressing issues surrounding non-nuclear and nuclear energy, and a practical commitment to the larger goal of green energy transition.

Healthcare Infrastructure, Pandemic and Emerging Health threats: India-EU Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

• The need for an accountability mechanism among nations is increasing, as in an international health crisis, if one side loses, so does the other.
• During COVID-19, considering the novelty of the virus, maintaining a system, and running isolation centres on the ground meant considering the larger disease prevention frameworks in India and promoting indigenous health systems is an effective way to utilize India’s soft power.
• COVID-19 made it abundantly clear that there is a need for a pandemic treaty. In order to achieve this goal, the gap between developed and developing countries must be narrowed as it has implications on how health exchange will take place.
• It is believed that health and diseases are not environmentally related, however, their relations need to be pointed out and recognized.

Emerging Technologies in the Indo-Pacific: India-EU Cooperation for Innovation and Growth

• India and the EU should come together and multiply efforts in solar energy, in hydro energy, and harness innovative practices in this field.
• The problem between India and the EU at the end of the day is how to come up with a standardized and indicative framework for human-centric technologies and how to reconcile the differences in their approach.
• The key is that it is not just about technology, but it is a domain where all major powers are trying to expand their strengths, and outer space particularly is becoming a competitive space to explore. It is also therefore the space where most collaborations between India and the EU take place through technology sharing.

Securing the Indo-Pacific: Strengthening EU-India Cooperation in Maritime Security

• Cooperation and confrontation take place in maritime issues, but the aspect of competition and contestation must also be considered in global commons.
• India can enhance its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations and focus on how it can harness this burden-sharing in the Indo-Pacific with the EU.
• The EU brings in a tested model of maritime governance and security. In any case, India needs to optimize resources and avoid duplication.
• The Indo-Pacific is a geoeconomic construct and in the context of security that must be embraced by India and the EU's strategies. In addition to military power, political power and soft power must be harmonised for increased maritime cooperation.

India-EU People-to-people Connect: Education and Cultural Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

• Fostering people-to-people connections, building relationships between organizations, and leader-to- leader understanding. These three levels complement each other, supplement each other, and at times, contradict each other.
•  Considering the recent developments in Europe and the changing orientation towards China, it is time for India and the EU to get together and utilize the soft power they have and build on it. It would make a larger difference to the world. 
• In a state of crisis, countries really need strong, sustainable ties across countries, and India-EU relations could lead towards this foundation.
• Creating a South Asian higher education region will facilitate better collaboration across these countries.