New Delhi, 18 February 2022: The Delegation of the European Union in India is hosting a webinar on EU-India Connectivity Partnership as part of India@75 Celebrations, ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ on Wednesday 23^rd February, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM IST. The event will provide a forum to present the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and an update on the progress under the EU-India Connectivity Partnership.

The Ambassador of the European Union to India, H.E. Mr Ugo Astuto and Mrs. Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India will address the virtual session. Mr Jean-Louis Ville, Acting Director, DG International Partnerships, European Commission, Brussels will make a presentation on the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy.  This will be followed by an update on progress under the EU-India Connectivity Partnership, signed in May 2021, by Ms Romana Vlahutin, Ambassador at Large for Connectivity, EEAS, Brussels.

Ms Maria Shaw-Barragan, Director of Lending in Africa, Caribbean, Pacific, Asia and Latin America, European Investment Bank (EIB) Global, Luxembourg will present an overview of the various EIB activities in India and the region.  In the end, Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), will moderate a Q&A session. Ms Stefania Benaglia, Associate Researcher at Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) will deliver the concluding remarks.

‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of India and the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements. The Mahotsav is an embodiment of all that is progressive about India’s socio-cultural, political, and economic identity.

India and the EU also mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2022. India was amongst the first countries to set up diplomatic relations with the then European Economic Community (EEC) in 1962.. India’s first Ambassador in Brussels H.E. KB Lall presented his credentials to the European Economic Community first President Walter Hallstein On 2^nd March 1962

In May 2021, India and the European Union had agreed to jointly implement connectivity that conforms with international norms, rule of law, respect for international commitments and mutually agreed principles of sustainable connectivity.  India and the EU will put particular emphasis on social, economic, fiscal, climate and environmental sustainability, as well as transparency, viability, good governance, and ensuring a level playing field for economic operators.

In December 2021, the European Union unveiled the Global Gateway, its plan to support infrastructure development around the world and towards this objective it plans to mobilise €300 billion between 2021-2027 for connectivity projects, notably in the digital, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research sectors.

Event Details:

Event: Virtual session on EU-India Connectivity Partnership and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy

Date: Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Time: 14:30 – 16.30 IST / 10:00 – 12:00 CET

Direct joining  link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88283073565?pwd=Y0MwV2NFUDlialZ2WStNc1N0QzhOZz09    

Webinar ID: 882 8307 3565

Passcode: 246870

Background Information:

EU-India Connectivity Partnership:

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/49508/eu-india-connectivity-partnership-8-may-2.pdf

Global Gateway:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/global-gateway_en