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EU Ambassador to India The IIM Calcutta family had the great opportunity of having on campus His Excellency Mr. Francisco Da Camara Gomes, the ambassador of European Union to India. He addressed the academic community on EU enlargement and its impact on Indo EU relations. The origin of EU was a community formed of six nations collaborating in coal and steel, ECSC in 1950. Similarly, the Treaty of Rome led to the formation of EURATOM and EEC. More co-operations followed, leading finally to the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, creating EU. Such an entity of European nations implied common policies on various matters starting from coal and steel, leading to agriculture, etc. The fields of collaboration vary in light of changing circumstances. The EU presently boasts of 15 member nations and is planning to expand in the present year. Nations like Malta, Cyprus, Poland, etc., will be joining in the recent future. The proposed enlargement procedure has resulted in an increased growth rate of these nations, even more than the present EU nations. This is primarily the result of market forces believing in the success of EU and the measures that have been taken in order to facilitate co-operation. According to HE Mr. Gomes, EU lays maximum emphasis on peace, stability, protection of democratic institutions and human rights. The nations also collaborate to form a join defense and external affairs policy, but are free to stick to their own structure in conjunction with EU guidelines. For example, the Balkan crisis helped in increasing the co-ordination as the member nations joined hands in the operation. The union has recently started a centre for defense related science and technology to exist as a major player in the arms market. India and EU have a lot of similarities. Both are unions with diversities in language and culture. Therefore, as according to HE Mr. Gomes, EU has a lot to learn from India, in terms of the mistakes that India has made as well the best practices. United States has been a melting pot for various cultures, but in EU, member nations are encouraged to preserve their heritage. Talking of trade between India and EU, Mr. Gomes remarked that FDI in India by EU nations and firms has increased over the years, and steps are being taken to let that figure grow further. He thinks that third world nations like India will be a major trade partner in years to come. Actually, EU nations are the most prolific in trade with India. In addition to trade, there are various other means of collaboration. One is definitely the area of outsourcing. After the United States has put a blanket ban on this, there are heavy chances of EU nations joining hands with India. His Excellency remarked that in the present day world, no one can really stop people from across continents to work together on a common platform, and in that respect, BPO becomes an inevitable entity. Even in the field of education, he inferred that a lot many students are moving to US whereas Europe has only a few scholars in its kitty. Keeping this in mind, he assured that the EU is presently working on a new scholarship programme which would encourage a two way flow of knowledge. The co-operation would be in terms of visiting faculties and student exchange programs as well on higher education grants. It was a very pleasing occasion to have His Excellency in campus, and turned out to be an informative session for budding managers who may even be working in EU nations so that they can get a view of things to look forward in future. Contributed by: - |
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