EU wants India to help tackle piracy

NEW DELHI: Seeking to put some teeth into a strategic relationship, the European Union has proposed that India join its initiative to tackle piracy and share intelligence in counter-terrorism cooperations.
This was proposed by Catherine Ashton-Carter, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, to the Indian leadership, particularly in her conversations with national security adviser Shivshankar Menon.
In her conversation with Menon, the EU official proposed that Indian expertise in counter-terrorism be utilized in the new EU "fusion" centres. "In the EU, we have these Fusion Centres where we are trying to put together different strands of intelligence. We are looking whether India can join the discussions on this," Ashton told reporters here on Wednesday. These are virtual centres where experts and intelligence officials share information and knowledge on terrorism concerns, she said, adding that India and the EU share similar issues and concerns regarding terrorism.
On piracy, she said, India could play an important role along with other countries, including even being part of the rotating command. India's inputs are important, she said, particularly in tacking the roots of piracy which are on land rather than on the sea.
Defining her role, Ashton-Carter said, "My overarching goal is to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the EU." Post-Lisbon Treaty, the imperative was to increase the political content of the relationship, she said.
Ashton-Carter's visit, her first as the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, was mainly seen as a run-up to the EU-India Summit meeting in Brussels in October.
Regarding India's role in Afghanistan, she said India was doing much the same things that the EU was involved in. But refused to get into the controversy of India's role in Afghanistan. She said the forthcoming Kabul peace conference in July was important to help the Karzai government. "At the end of any conflict, people have to go home."
"We recognise that India is playing an important role in Afghanistan and addressing some of the issues related to infrastructure, health and education. We need to work closely," Ashton-Carter said.