Strengthening EU-India Strategic Partnership through Sports

“ India and EU are Natural Partners. Our partnership is also useful for peace and stability in the world. This reality has even become more clear in today’s global situation.”

--Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

In the Joint statement,

The 15th Summit between India and the European Union (EU) was held in virtual format on 15th July 2020. India was represented by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The EU was represented by Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

The leaders decided to strengthen the EU-India Strategic Partnership, based on shared principles and values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, and respect for human rights, aiming at delivering concrete benefits for the people in the EU and India.

They endorsed this “EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” as a common roadmap to guide joint action and further strengthen the EU-India Strategic Partnership over the next five years. In a complex international environment, the European Union and the Republic of India, both "unions of diversity", sharing values of democracy, rule of law and human rights, are equally convinced of the necessity to preserve the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism. The EU and India have a common interest in each other's security, prosperity and sustainable development. They can contribute jointly to a safer, cleaner and more stable world. They therefore endeavour to develop further their Strategic  partnership, based on this Roadmap.

One important part missing in this “EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” is Sports Diplomacy and the role sports can play in bring strengthening EU-India relations. In a traditional sense, diplomacy is ‘the conduct of relations between sovereign states with standing in world politics by official agents and by peaceful means’ (Bull 1977, 156). The scope and means of diplomacy is vast, one of which includes Sports as a Diplomacy tool.

Why Sports as a Diplomacy tool?

According to the High Level Group set up by European Commission on Sport Diplomacy report mandated by Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, in a challenging and complex environment, sport has the potential to be a new tool to:

? Improve foreign policy and international relations;

? Reach external audiences more deeply, positively and effectively;

? Support external policies;

? Enhance external image and influence.

Sport works softly as a diplomatic lubricant to:

? Create public interest and public goodwill

? Appeal directly to the general public

? Provide a favourable environment to manage international relations

? Facilitate changes and/or increase momentum in diplomatic practices”

Sports Diplomacy can help strengthen and expand EU-India dialogue mechanisms by

·        Including Sports for Development projects as part of Urban Development

·        Promoting Sports infrastructure investments in Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation projects

·        Facilitate sharing of best practices through actors (including other grassroots sport organisations, States, NGOs, civil society, or even individuals) along with classical actor such as state

·        Increase the scope of “Development partnership in third countries and Launch concrete trilateral/cooperation projects in pilot partner countries” and include area of sports projects

·        Increasing the scope of cooperation in the field of cultural diplomacy and seek co-operation through grassroot sports diplomacy.

Strengthening Bilateral relations between EU and India

The EU's trade relationship with India is full of untapped potential. Leaders agreed to further develop their trade and investment relations and to establish a regular high level dialogue at ministerial level to enhance conditions for traders and investors.

Sports as a tool provides an excellent opportunity to improve economic and bilateral relations. This set ups a great platform for cross sectoral collaboration where Sport Management Companies, Sports Management Institutes, High performance institutes, IT Companies can come together. This also creates a platform to create new business networks and provide targeted commercial opportunities for internal and foreign engagement during the games.

As power dynamics shift, the EU wants to play a stronger role in Asia, and across the globe. Today's dialogue with India & PM Shri Narendra Modi will reinforce & advance the EU’s strategic long-term goals.

President Michel after the end of the EU-India video conference

Among the EU’s strategic long-term goals, Sports Diplomacy should play an important role.

“Sports have the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sports can create hope, where there was once only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination. Sport is the game of lovers.”

(Nelson Mandela, Laureus Sports World Awards, 2000)