Union divided over India’s nuclear tests

Date: 21/05/1998

By Mark Turner

EU FOREIGN ministers are unlikely to adopt Europe-wide measures against India at their monthly meeting in Brussels next week, despite expressions of "dismay" and "disgust" at the country's recent nuclear tests.

Although some Union governments, including the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, have suspended bilateral aid to the country, France and the UK would strongly resist an EU-wide aid freeze and are urging moderation from their partners.

British Development Minister Clare Short insisted this week that "the poor of India should not be made to suffer" through measures designed to punish their government. She added that it was possible to channel aid through non-governmental organisations while making the Union's displeasure clear to New Delhi.

UK sources said there were no formal proposals for other concrete responses as yet, although one suggested that alternatives to an aid freeze were being considered, including restrictions on diplomatic contacts or cuts in military aid. Brussels diplomats added that Europe was waiting to see how Pakistan responded to the tests.

The European Commission is currently working on a strategy to improve economic and political ties with India which was put on hold due to the country's political instability last year.