Look for nuclear option to overcome energy shortage
Thursday, 23 August 2007
NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (PTI): Even as the government finds itself in a no-envying position over the Indo-US nuclear deal, the European Union (EU) has said India should look for all options, including nuclear to overcome shortage of energy.
"India has shortage of energy and should look for all kinds of options, including nuclear energy," the outgoing Ambassador Head of Delegation of the European Commission to India Francisco da Camara Santa Clara Gomes said at an interaction with the Forum of Financial Writers Monday.
"We do not have a common position. Time must be given to India and the US to come to a final conclusion. Thereafter, we will come up with a common position on the nuclear deal," he said while commenting on the deal.
Indo-US nuclear deal is passing through rough weather with the Left Parties threatening to withdraw support if the government goes ahead with the agreement. The EU represents several members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Talking about the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and EU, the Ambassador said it would not jepoardise the multilateral trade agreement being negotiated at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"India and EU have started negotiations on a trade and investment programme, they do not want to replace multilateral talks with those on the bilateral level," he said.
On the other hand, he said collaboration in bilateral trade will make it easier to push for conclusion of talks at the WTO.
"While sessions have been held on bilateral negotiations, there is more to come this year," he said, adding the bilateral talks were likely to conclude in the next two years.
Stating that India and the EU are united in fulfilment of the Doha development round, he said both want the Doha negotiations to succeed.
He said WTO members are now moving in the right direction and are far more optimistic about successful conclusion of the negotiations than ever before.
Replying to questions on the EU's stringent food import norms, Gomes said they cannot be relaxed as the EU members are very particular about quality of food.
He further added, "there is no way we are making it flexible or going back. Other countries will have to adjust to the rules. If at all we may make them more stringent, but rules regarding food safety cannot be relaxed as security for consumers is of utmost importance."
"India has shortage of energy and should look for all kinds of options, including nuclear energy," the outgoing Ambassador Head of Delegation of the European Commission to India Francisco da Camara Santa Clara Gomes said at an interaction with the Forum of Financial Writers Monday.
"We do not have a common position. Time must be given to India and the US to come to a final conclusion. Thereafter, we will come up with a common position on the nuclear deal," he said while commenting on the deal.
Indo-US nuclear deal is passing through rough weather with the Left Parties threatening to withdraw support if the government goes ahead with the agreement. The EU represents several members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Talking about the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and EU, the Ambassador said it would not jepoardise the multilateral trade agreement being negotiated at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"India and EU have started negotiations on a trade and investment programme, they do not want to replace multilateral talks with those on the bilateral level," he said.
On the other hand, he said collaboration in bilateral trade will make it easier to push for conclusion of talks at the WTO.
"While sessions have been held on bilateral negotiations, there is more to come this year," he said, adding the bilateral talks were likely to conclude in the next two years.
Stating that India and the EU are united in fulfilment of the Doha development round, he said both want the Doha negotiations to succeed.
He said WTO members are now moving in the right direction and are far more optimistic about successful conclusion of the negotiations than ever before.
Replying to questions on the EU's stringent food import norms, Gomes said they cannot be relaxed as the EU members are very particular about quality of food.
He further added, "there is no way we are making it flexible or going back. Other countries will have to adjust to the rules. If at all we may make them more stringent, but rules regarding food safety cannot be relaxed as security for consumers is of utmost importance."