EU cool on Indian calls for support in civilian nuclear energy

Oct 13, 2006, 14:35 GMT

Helsinki - The European Union on Friday reacted coolly to Indian calls for backing its quest for civilian nuclear energy while stressing the bloc's commitment to support India's energy capacity.

'We agreed that we do not want to see more nuclear weapons states,' EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said according to her spokeswoman.

The EU was committed to support India's energy capacity but would only co-operate in nuclear issues once 'the international conditions are right,' Ferrero-Waldner said at the margins of the seventh EU- India summit in Helsinki.

Finland currently runs the rotating EU presidency.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that New Delhi was firmly committed to the non-proliferation regime while co-operating with like-minded countries in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

'This will enable countries like India to expand the share of nuclear energy in their national energy baskets,' Singh said, adding that the use of civil nuclear energy was central for the nation.

Several EU members are in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group which must approve the recently signed India-US civilian nuclear deal before it can take effect.

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said earlier that the EU was yet to evolve a 'common position' on the India-US nuclear pact.

EU and Indian leaders also agreed to set up regular meetings to discuss oil and natural gas. The 25-member bloc wants to promote its ideas about saving energy and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide which is seen as the main cause for global warming.