EU asks India to join N-weapons treaty

The European Union on Friday made it clear that India will have to take a 'few steps' like associating with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty before the 25-nation body can decide on cooperating with it in civil nuclear energy.

EU Commissioner for External Relations Beneta Ferrero-Waldner, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday morning on a five-day visit, said the European grouping was ready to discuss these steps with New Delhi as it understands its need for civil nuclear energy because of its rapidly growing requirements.

"We acknowledge India's energy needs and are committed to support its energy components, of which civil nuclear energy is an important part. However, the EU can venture into this only within the non-proliferation regime's framework," she told a select group of media persons soon after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"A few steps are still needed before such cooperation is made possible. We hope India will take these steps towards international non-proliferation mechanism and mainstream, and then swiftly conclude safeguards agreement with the IAEA," she said.

Refusing to go into specific details, she said the steps expected to be taken include those that help India enter the NPT, CTBT and Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

Underlining that these were 'not conditions,' she said, "The EU is ready to discuss these issues with India with an open mind to see how far we go and how far India can go. We have to see how far we can engage." 

Ferrero-Waldner, the first top EU official to visit New Delhi after the US enacted a law on civil nuclear trade with India in December, said the European body was 'still carefully examining' the issue of cooperating in this field with New Delhi.

The issue is being looked primarily from two aspects -- India's rapidly growing energy needs and EU's strong commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The EU will close watch India's negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency for signing a safeguards agreement and its progress at the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.

"We are interested in working with India in the future. But we feel that a few steps are needed to be taken by India," she said, adding that the two sides will have a dialogue for things to evolve.

Meeting India's energy needs is part of the Joint Action Plan signed by the two sides in 2005, she said.

Ferrero-Waldner said the EU is keen to work for cutting gas emissions to curb global warming and, in this regard, it had set a target of 20 per cent reduction by 2020. If big countries like India and China join the effort, the target could be enhanced to 30 per cent, she said.

She said she discussed the issue with Dr Singh in 'general terms' and he expressed his desire to work in this direction.