British Member of the European Parliament Dr. Charles Tannock was re-endorsed as co-chairman of the informal parliamentary group called the "Friends of India in the European Parliament" (EP) on July 4. He told INEPNEXT news agency that the function of the group is to promote India and also provide a vehicle for visiting Indian officials, dignitaries, parliamentarians to meet Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Hosting a reception to introduce the office-bearers of the body, Tannock said the presence of so many MEPs from different political groups and nationalities shows the increasing interest in India. "It is a very healthy sign and demonstrates the increasing interest in India as a huge country with whom we share so much in common, respect of democracy, common values, respecting human rights.'' Tannock, who is foreign affairs spokesman for the UK conservative delegation and vice president of the European Parliament's Human Rights Subcommittee, noted that the EU is the largest democratic organisation in the world with 500 million people and 27 member states. "As we raise our profile in the international arena there will be more and more Indian officials, dignitaries, politicians visiting Brussels and the EP," he declared. He said it would be very helpful if there was an equivalent body like Friends of the European Union formed in the Indian Parliament. Another British MEP Neena Gill was chosen as the patron of the group. She spoke highly of T. Ashok - the Indian diplomat in Brussels responsible for EP affairs. Gill said Ashok, who will soon be departing Belgium to take up his new post in Nepal, did an excellent job in promoting parliamentary ties between EU and India during his short tenure in Brussels.

Source: http://www.neurope.eu