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History of the Delegation for relations with India (D-IN)

Meetings between the European Parliament and the Lok Sabha, the lower chamber of the Indian Parliament, have taken place since 1981.

For many years the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South Asia and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was responsible for the Parliament's relationship with India.

A dozen interparliamentary meetings with Indian legislators were held with this Delegation.

A dedicated delegation for India

In 2007 the European Parliament set up a specific Delegation for relations with India (D-IN). The move acknowledged the growing importance of India to the European Union, as well as the Strategic Partnership established between the EU and India in 2004.

A number of visits by the European Parliament Delegation have taken place since 2007.

The visits have focussed on development and humanitarian efforts, regional and international security issues, and trade and investment opportunities, as well as social and human rights.

Seventh legislative term

Key activities of the Delegation during the European Parliament's seventh legislative term (2009 to 2014), included visits to Delhi, Hyderabad, Patna, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Indian MPs and officials came to Brussels and Strasbourg in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Eighth legislative term

The Delegation has pursued its busy schedule during the current, eighth, legislative term (2014-2019) of the Parliament.

In March 2015, the Delegation visited Delhi and Jaipur.

Over the course of 2015, the Delegation welcomed both humanitarian leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to the European Parliament.

Speaker Mahajan was the highest-ranking Indian parliamentary representative to visit the European Parliament in over a decade.

In 2017 the Delegation visited both Delhi and Bangalore for meetings with government and business, and the Parliament received officials of the Lok Sabha for a study visit.