No. 25 February 2012 PATRYK KUGIEL * The European Union and India: Partners in Democracy Promotion? The Arab Spring has reinvigorated discussions about strengthening the EU’s democratisation efforts. In this context, one may consider whether India could be an attractive partner for the EU in democracy promotion in Asia and elsewhere. It is not only the world’s largest democracy but also a “strategic partner” of the EU, and it is willing to strengthen cooperation on regional and global levels. Shared values and adherence to democracy were seen as natural common ground for closer cooperation since the EU and India took on strategic cooperation in 2000. As early as the second EU–India Summit in 2001, both sides agreed to “step up efforts to promote democracy and to address human-rights issues at the international and bilateral levels”. 1 In 2003, they reiterated their commitment to “work together to promote pluralistic democracy in the world by laying special emphasis on democratic policies and practice“. 2 A special section on “Democracy and Human Rights” was included in a major document on a strategic partnership signed in 2005 in which both sides committed to “look together for possible synergies and initiatives to promote human rights and democracy”. 3 Since then, however, democratisation has been silenced from the ongoing dialogue, and not many examples of the practical implementation of those aims can be found. In fact, democracy seems to have become more often a point of friction between the two than an area for cooperation. India has been criticized by the EU and the U.S. for years for its cooperation with Myanmar’s military junta, silence during Sri Lanka’s final military assault on the Tamil Tigers in 2009 and its reluctance to impose stricter sanctions against Iran. The differences were more clearly displayed last year while the Arab revolutions were unfolding in North Africa. First, India, which holds a non-permanent seat at the UNSC, together with China and Russia abstained from voting on Resolution 1973 on Libya in March 2011 and then abstained again * Analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). 1 “Joint Communiqué: Second India-EU Summit”, New Delhi, 23 November, 2001. 2 “4th EU–India Summit: Joint Press Statement”, New Delhi, 29 November 2003. 3 “The India-EU Strategic Partnership. Joint Action Plan”, New Delhi, 7 September 2005.