The Hindu Business Line : `India is taking on new political responsibilities'

REITERATING that the European Union was a political entity with its own distinct identity, the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr Paul Steinmetz, has said that India has recognised the EU as a balancing power in a multipolar world.

Luxembourg, one of the EU's smallest nations, took over the presidency of the European Union in January 2005 following the Dutch Presidency that ended in December 2004 last year.

Addressing a press meet here he said, "India is taking new political responsibilities," referring to the country's role in the aftermath of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

At the last once-a-year Indo-Euro summit, hosted by the Netherlands presidency in The Hague on November 8, 2004, it was decided to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership on par with the US, Russia and China. Stating that India is the EU's largest trading partner as well as largest source of actual foreign direct investment, Mr Steinmetz acknowledged that India has developed into a major regional actor and emerging global player.

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`India is taking on new political responsibilities'