Indian Perceptions of the European Union

The study of external perceptions provides insights into how the European Union (EU) is actually judged as an international actor, helps shape the EU’s identity and roles, and shows how outsiders’ expectations and perceptions impact upon the EU’s foreign policy performance. This article examines how the European Union is perceived by India – one of the ten strategic partners of the European Union. It examines India’s attitudes towards the European integration movement, Jawaharlal Nehru’s perceptions of the European Community and the changed perceptions of Europe in India’s foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. It discusses the perceptions of the Indian political, business and media elites of the European Union as an international actor. In conclusion, it discusses what needs to be done to overcome the perceptional differences.