As Macron meets Modi, India-Europe ties at tipping point

EUROPEAN-INDIAN relations reach a high point this Friday (Jan 26) with French President Emmanuel Macron invited as the chief guest at the Indian Republic Day celebrations. Yet, the bilateral partnership is still far from fulfilling its economic and political potential, to the frustration of both sides.

It was UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill who famously described Russia, during the Second World War, as a “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. Yet, fast forward to almost a century later and similar sentiments are felt today towards India by many Europeans.

The relationship between Europe and the world’s most populous democracy is a tantalising mix of complexity, ambiguity, wonder and, sometimes, exasperation. This was encapsulated in a report released this month by the European Parliament which – rightly – asserted that “the partnership has not yet reached its full potential”, despite bilateral momentum in recent years, reflecting the political, economic, social and cultural ties and a renewed political will to boost ties further. This viewpoint is widely shared across the continent with, for instance, a study by the Jacques Delors Institute in France recently stating that “European Union-India economic relations are well below their potential”.