Jaishankar meets EU officials to set stage for PM visit

New Delhi: Setting the stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected visit to the Belgian capital Brussels next month for the 15th IndiaEU Summit, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met top functionaries of the European Union as well as certain Members of the European Parliament during a visit to Brussels.

Setting the stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to the Belgian Capital — Brussels — next month for the 15th India-EU Summit, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Tuesday met top functionaries of the European Union (EU) as well as certain Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) during a visit to Brussels.

He is believed to have strongly defended the Indian position on the Kashmir issue and situation in Jammu and Kashmir as well as on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Mr Jaishankar met the top EU dignitaries, including Charles Michel, President of the European Council of Heads of Government of the 27 member states of the European Union.

This meeting comes a few days after the European Parliament deferred voting on several resolutions moved by certain Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) that were sharply critical of India on the Kashmir and CAA issues.

New Delhi on Tuesday said, “During his one-day visit, EAM exchanged views with a group of Members of the European Parliament representing various member states and political groupings in the new European Parliament. This was his second such interaction with MEPs.”

EAM’s visit comes just days after 12 European envoys based in New Delhi visited J&K on a two-day visit organised by the Indian Government as part of an overall 25-member foreign envoys’ delegation.

It may be recalled that the European Union (EU) had said, “The visit confirmed that the Government of India has taken positive steps to restore normalcy,” adding that “Some restrictions remain, notably on internet access and mobile services, and some political leaders are still in detention, it is important that the remaining restrictions be lifted swiftly”.

The EU had also said that it “recognises the serious security concerns” of Indian authorities, and that “the visit presented a welcome opportunity to see the situation on the ground and to interact with local interlocutors”.

The MEA further said, “Both sides expect to deepen their engagement — particularly on common priorities such as addressing climate change, safeguarding multilateralism, cooperation in defence, security, connectivity, digital economy, trade and investment.”

— PTI Families living in the slum near the newly-built Motera stadium pose for photographs with eviction notices by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. While officials have denied any connection with the proposed high-profile visit and issuance of notices, residents of the slum have questioned the timing of the move, which came days after the AMC began building a wall allegedly to cover a slum.

S. Jaishankar EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER meets top functionaries of the European Union (EU) as well as certain Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) during a visit to Brussels on Tuesday.