New Delhi: Describing as "broad-based and intensive" India's relations with the European Union (EU), External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today (Nov 19, 2004) said that the strategic partnership formed recently would be taken to higher levels, especially in the fields of energy and space.

"We now intend to take this partnership to even higher levels, especially in hi-technology such as the energy sector and in space where India is presently in an advanced stage of negotiations regarding its participation in the Galileo Satellite Navigation Project," he said in his keynote address at a conference on 'Europe and Asia: Perspectives on the Emerging International Order.'

Singh noted that the decision to launch the strategic partnership, taken during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent visit to The Hague, was significant given that the EU has strategic partnerships with only five other countries in the world.

"Closer political consultations and a dynamic business relationship, underpinned by a shared commitment to democracy, are the main pillars of our engagement with the EU," he said.

In his speech at the conference organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Singh said that Both Europe and Asia share the view of the need for UN reform and although EU does not have a common position on UNSC (United Nations Security Council) reform, it has taken note of India's credentials to be a Security Council member.

"Most EU member States are supportive of an expanded and restructured UNSC consisting of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil," he said.