India-EU ties have potential for diversification: Speaker

New Delhi, Oct 1: Observing that India and the European Union are fast emerging as economic and political power centres in the world, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has said the bilateral friendly ties have the potential for diversification in various areas, especially trade and commerce.

Mr Chatterjee expressed this view while welcoming a five-member delegation from the European Parliament, which called on him here yesterday evening.

On the issue of terrorism, which continues to bedevil India and several other countries, he said the world community should fight the scourge together. ''There should be be no compromise on the fight against terrorism,'' he added.

''The friendly relations between India and the EU should deepen further with greater interaction at different levels and diversification of co-operation between the two sides in various areas, including trade and commerce,'' he said.

Pointing out that India had achieved considerable progress in the economic field, Mr Chatterjee reminded the delegation that the country became independent just 56 years ago after suffering subjugation for centuries.

Taking pride in the country's robust parliamentary traditions, he said, India is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society which stands for unity in diversity.

''Our President and Prime Minister belong to minority communities.

It symbolises our national desire to ensure equal rights and opportunities to all the citizens, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.'' Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Parliament who led the delegation, had a query about the significance of the spinning wheel in the Tricolour with regard to the growth of textile industry in India.

''The spinning wheel ('charkha') that was shown on the Tricolour during the freedom movement stood for people's desire for freedom, self-reliance and self-confidence and to do things that were beneficial to common people," the Speaker proudly recalled.

'Our Constitution is based on the centrality of the people of the country,'' he said, adding that the benefits of globalisation must percolate down to the grassroots level.

Describing India as the 'world's largest democracy', Mr. Borrell, who has announced the formation of India-specific permanent friendship group in the European Parliament, felt the need to strengthen the links between the two parliaments.

Responding to the suggestion, Mr Chatterjee promised creation of a similar parliamentary friendship group in India.

He also responded favourably to Mr. Borrell's suggestion for holding meetings of parliamentarians of the two sides ahead of the EU summit, on the pattern of those being held between the European Parliaments and the Parliaments of some Mediterranean and Latin American nations.

''This will help us broaden our understanding on various issues and will ultimately result in pressure on governments to put into action various positive ideas,'' he opined.

Mr Borrell said bods of friendship between the two sides should be strengthened on the basis of democratic and secular values. He, however, regretted that investments from the European Union in India were mere one per cent of the total investments made by the EU across the globe.

''This imbalance needs to be corrected,'' he said.

The efforts being made through the Lok Sabha televsion channel to bring Parliament closer to the people also figured at the nearly hour-long meeting in the Parliament Library Building.

Mr Borrell extended an invitation to the Lok sabha Speaker to visit the European Parliament.

UNI

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