EU may announce support for PM Modi's pet projects like smart cities, Make in India next month

NEW DELHI: India and the European Union are preparing for a summit next month in Brussels, four years after the last one, with a hope to boost investments for the Modi government’s flagship projects and frame robust security partnership besides giving political push to the proposed Free Trade Area agreement.

The summit is likely to see EU announce support for PM’s flagship projects, including smart cities, Skill India, Digital India and Make in India. Counter-terror and security partnership will also be a priority, a source hinted. Deradicalisation programme for extremists and the situation in West Asia would also figure in the summit agenda.

Attempts to hold the summit last year did not materialise following the intransigence of certain EU officials over the Italian marines case and scheduling issues.

The 13th bilateral summit could be held en route to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit to attend the Nuclear Security Summit on March 31-April 1. The 12th India-EU annual summit was held in New Delhi in 2012, the first after the Lisbon Treaty.

Even as Modi traveled across continents to push traditional partnerships and explore new avenues of cooperation, a stop at Brussels never took place, giving an impression that relations with India’s largest trading partner was on the backburner.

However, India pushed ties with key EU member states as the PM visited France, Germany and UK and hosted leaders of Germany, France and the Netherlands. The French president was the chief guest for this year’s Republic Day celebrations. PMs from Sweden and Finland will be among foreign heads at the Make in India week show in Mumbai.

A key factor that influenced EU’s decision to hold a summit followed a push from several member states which have individually engaged India on trade and investments.