European Union- South Asia Development Co-operation with special reference to India

Abstract

The scope of the EU’s development agenda has undergone significant changes over the years and now, interalia, includes political objectives and sectoral priorities. In South Asia – a region long overlooked by the EU due to its marginal presence in global trade, internal bickering and varying political preferences – the EU is now focussed on improving infrastructure and social sectors, in addition to its longstanding liberal contributions of assistance in response to natural disasters in the region. The wider implications of donor coordination and EU development strategy are subject to much scrutiny and debate in South Asia, as this aid is inextricably linked to political preferences. This article evaluates the nature of the EU’s development programme in South Asia. It also points to the contradictions that exist within the EU’s larger ideological preferences and actions in its development agenda in South Asia.