The 12th Counter Terrorism Dialogue between the European Union (EU) and India was held virtually on 19th November 2020. The Dialogue was an opportunity to continue close cooperation and coordination on this important element of the EU - India strategic partnership. Both the EU and India resolved to support each other in the fight against terrorism.

The EU and India strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism. India condemned the recent terror attacks in the Member States of the European Union and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The EU reiterated its condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot and Pulwama and reiterated its support for the people and government of India in the fight against terrorism. The EU and India emphasised the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner. They reaffirmed that it is crucial that perpetrators of violence and terrorism are brought to justice.

The participants of the Dialogue reviewed threats posed by UN-sanctioned terrorist entities and emphasised the need for concerted action against all terrorist networks.

They also underlined the urgent need for all countries to take immediate, sustained and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks on other countries.

The EU and India exchanged views on current counter-terrorism challenges, including countering radicalisation and violent extremism, combating the financing of terrorism, and tackling terrorist use of the internet. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in dealing with these challenges. The participants also discussed sanctions as a tool to combat terrorism, including designations of certain terrorist groups and individuals. They discussed ways to deepen cooperation between Indian Agencies and their European counterparts, including Europol, to enhance interaction in the sphere of counter terrorism. In this context, they referred to the on-going negotiations on a working arrangement between Europol and the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation to support Indian and EU law enforcement authorities in preventing and combating organised crime and terrorism.

The Dialogue also presented an opportunity to discuss counter terrorism cooperation in multilateral fora such as the Financial Action Task Force, the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the United Nations (UN), including in the UN High-Level Counter-terrorism Week 2021 and the upcoming review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The Counter-Terrorism Dialogue was co-chaired by Ms Joanneke Balfoort, Director for Security Policy, European External Action Service, and Mr Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism at the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

 (Source: EEAS)