EU-India Ties Reach Remarkable Level of Political Intensity: Envoy Paquet
New EU Ambassador Jean Eric Paquet says the focus now is on converting the strong political partnership into tangible outcomes across India and Europe.
NEW DELHI, Sep 25: European Union Ambassador to India Jean-Eric Paquet on Friday described the political relationship between Europe and India as having reached a “remarkable” level of intensity, while stressing the need to translate the partnership’s vision into tangible results.
Paquet made the remarks while speaking to PTI Videos after presenting his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“I just presented my credentials. What a wonderful ceremony and an honour to present those credentials to the Honourable President of India. My tenure really starts. There’s so much to do,” he said.
The envoy said the next phase of the partnership would require coordinated efforts in both India and Europe to turn political commitments into concrete outcomes.
“The relationship between Europe and India has achieved a level of political intensity which is remarkable. And I think, what we now need to do here in India, also in Europe, across India, is to really transform this political vision and this political promise into tangible outcomes,” Paquet said.
He added that the EU delegation in India would work with authorities in Delhi as well as administrations across the country to strengthen cooperation and make the partnership more visible on the ground.
Paquet also spoke about his intention to understand India by travelling extensively across the country and meeting people from different regions.
“Understanding India is also seeing India and meeting Indians,” he said.
The ambassador said he had already visited Amritsar and Jaisalmer and planned to travel to all 28 states and Union Territories during his tenure.
“So that’s going to be also an ambition for me as an ambassador here,” he said, adding that he and his spouse were eager to explore the country.
“This is really where the partnership is happening,” Paquet said.
Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on X that President Murmu received credentials from Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union, and Sophie Karlshausen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium.
