The end of the Cold War and subsequent geo-political developments had transformative impact on India’s relations with the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Consequently, India and CEE countries recalibrated their foreign policies, but changed external orientations did not augment their bilateral relationships. Their political interactions became less frequent and economic linkages relatively modest. Despite a positive mutual perception, cultural and people-to-people contacts are not so vibrant and extensive. Since the 1990s, India and CEE have registered reasonably impressive economic growth. They have been pursuing economic reforms and taking initiatives for building digital and physical infrastructure for facilitating further growth and development and greater integration with the global economy. Therefore, an urge for enhancing India–CEE partnership now seems gradually gaining momentum, and positive measures, new synergies have been evolving. India’s multiple programmes ranging from ‘Make in India’, ‘Clean India’ to Skill India’ offer opportunities for enhancing cooperation. While taking a brief account of historical relationship between India and the CEE, the article analyses contemporary status of their relations. Finally, it examines the untapped potential of India–CEE cooperation, major challenges and prospective policy orientations.

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Promotion of renewable energy and application of clean technology are essential for limiting emissions of GHG and facilitating environmentally compatible development. Although India and the European Union (EU) recognise their vulnerability to climate change, they differ on their ‘normative claims’ of the global climate change regime. India and the EU do not agree on emission cut targets. They can cooperate in multiple ways in the areas of clean technologies, renewable energy, research and development and sharing knowledge for sustainable development planning, etc. India has adopted a comprehensive National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which comprises of both mitigation and adaptation measures to climate change. The implementation of the NPACC would be crucial in shaping a policy for inclusive and sustainable development. Hence, cooperation between India and the EU can take place in areas of the NAPCC that would help not only in coping with climate change, but also in enhancing India’s economic relations as well as development partnership with the EU.

Sjostedt, Gunnar and Ariel Macaspac Penetrante (Eds), Climate Change Negotiations: A Guide to Resolving Disputes and Facilitating Multilateral Cooperation (London: Routledge, 2013). Pp. 455, Price $170.

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