— PHOTO: PTI

STRENGTHENING TIES: British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie arrive at Palam Technical Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: European Council President Tony Blair, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Union High Representative Javier Solana arrived here late on Tuesday to attend the sixth India-European Union summit on Wednesday.

A detailed action plan and a political declaration signalling the commitment of the E.U. and India to enhance engagement on all issues of mutual concern is scheduled to be issued at the meeting.

"Joint values"

In a statement before arrival, President Barroso said, "The European Union and India know and show that they matter to each other more than ever before. With our ambitious action plan, we will be able to jointly work against terrorism and build up a security dialogue. We will be able to meet common environmental challenges and strengthen our two-way trade and investment. Based on our joint values, on our shared commitment to freedom and democracy, we will forge an ever closer relationship and make the strategic partnership a huge success."

According to a European Commission statement, the action plan's political chapter outlines areas in which the E.U. and India want to intensify their political dialogue and join forces on the international stage to address global challenges systematically. It emphasises the constructive dialogue on human rights and cooperation with the United Nations and establishes a dedicated dialogue on migration and consular issues.

The chapter on trade and investment aims to promote two-way trade flows and investment. The summit will entrust a `high-level trade group' with delivering recommendations in view of a possible comprehensive trade and investment agreement.

Both sides will work towards enhanced cooperation on the Doha Development Agenda and a successful Hong Kong WTO Ministerial.

The section on economic policy is aimed at putting the E.U. and its economic operators at the core of India's ongoing reform process and to promote good governance.

"It proposes enhanced economic cooperation through the establishment of new dialogues and working groups (e.g. biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, finance, health, social affairs, agriculture) and aims to promote space co-operation and India's participation in Galileo [satellite navigation system] and ITER [International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor]," the statement added.

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