India, EU to cooperate in R&D in nuclear and fusion energy

Marseilles: India and EU today decided to co-operate in civil nuclear research and development and enhance exchanges in the field of fusion energy research.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in "civil nuclear research and development in a manner consistent with their international obligations," the India-EU Joint Action Plan issued at the end of the ninth India-European Union Summit here today.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in his capacity as President of the European Council, agreed to promote bilateral R&D in a range of areas as part of their efforts to enhance exchanges and cooperation.

The meeting decided to enhance cooperation in the framework of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Agreement and through the conclusion of a bilateral agreement between Euratom and India in the field of fusion energy research.

India and the EU have also agreed to undertake collaborative research and capacity building in new fields of science and technology.

The two sides have agreed to strengthen dialogue between the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO), the Department of Space, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. It was also decided that India and the EU should explore co-operation in the field of pharmaceutical education and research.

The meeting agreed to foster co-operation on solar energy with a view to jointly developing a flagship programme in solar energy. They decided to implement a bilateral work programme on energy, clean development and climate change to promote joint activities, research and policy development.