India-EU News & Analysis

[shyam]

EU is slowly trying to tighten its screw. This news report must be seen in the context of extra demands EU made in the FTA with India, and India's rejection of those demands.

Europe halts sale of Indian-sourced drug

[Ameet]

India prepared to take EU to WTO over drugs

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62U3R120100331

India is ready to launch a formal dispute against the European Union at the World Trade Organization over EU seizures of Indian generic drugs, the Indian Trade Secretary said on Wednesday.

New Delhi says it wants to solve the dispute "amicably" but there has been no breakthrough so far between India and its largest trading partner. Khullar said India was still holding out for a solution.

Trade between India and the EU currently stands at 78 billion euros ($105 billion). Brussels says the pact could open up export opportunities worth $9 billion for India.

[Samay]

The India-France nuclear pact has formally become operational even as New Delhi and Washington are still struggling with finalising details of a key reprocessing pact required to implement their nuclear deal.

http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/588647

If americans keep on lingering in pakiland with new offers and pleasing ignorance then they should forget setting up even a substation in India

[Karan Dixit]

"We will build new plants there and we will grow those businesses faster than those in Europe and North America. For us, the most interesting places to be will be India and Brazil," Mittal told British newspaper The Telegraph.

http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS ... 5421&clid=

[Chinmayanand]

Pak must act against terror groups, says Germany

Calling spade a spade... such blunt talk from Germany...not that pak cares about it but a good breakthrough overall...

[Prem]

Pak must act against terror groups, says Germany

Calling spade a spade... such blunt talk from Germany...not that pak cares about it but a good breakthrough overall...

Most probably like French ,Germany has realized Paki has No Money and cant buy SUB or GUN . Germany also being privy to the whole long list of Kaalla Dhan accounts in Swiss banks knows soon GOI will have $s coming out of ears and mush and they get good chance to make few Billions fulfilling many Indian requirements.

[shyamd]

IOL: French govt has ruled that ATE will not be able to sell gear for JF-17, but DCNS will be allowed to make an imminent sale to TSP. HDW is also negotiating sales to India for 6 subs. HDW was supposed to sell U214s to TSP, but talks have broke down. DCNS is allowed to sell to TSP only because India has completed the purchase for scorpene's and looks like Delhi has made it clear it wont be buying anymore and no chance of sales to India.
A delegation of French officials and defense industry executives attended manoeuvres by the Pakistan Navy in the arabian sea. Several SM-39 Exocet missiels were fired.

A delegation from the Pakistan Navy is expected to accompany the Prime Minister Yousouf Gilani on a visit to Paris in the last week of April. Negotiations with Pakistan maybe complicated by Judicial and parliametary investgation into the Karachi attack that killed 11 DCNS employees.

Well done India.

[sunnyP]

Polish President Lech Kaczynski dies in plane crash

Polish President Lech Kaczynski and scores of others have been killed in a plane crash in Russia.

Polish and Russian officials said no-one had survived after the plane apparently hit trees as it approached Smolensk's airport in thick fog.

Poland's army chief, central bank governor, MPs and leading historians were among more than 80 passengers.

They were due to mark the anniversary of the Katyn massacre, when Soviet forces killed thousands of Poles.

The BBC's Adam Easton, in Warsaw, says the crash is a catastrophe for the Polish people.

He says Prime Minister Donald Tusk was reportedly in tears when he was told.

Mr Tusk, who runs the day-to-day business of government, has called an emergency meeting of ministers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8612825.stm

[sunnyP]

BJP seeks apology from Germany for Modi dictator' comment

NEW DELHI: BJP on Sunday demanded an apology from the German government for provocative' statements made by its parliamentary delegation which also reportedly said Gujarat's chief minister Narendra Modi was described as a dictator'.

"Describing Modi as a dictator is intolerable. Tarnishing the image of a democratically elected Chief Minister by visiting German officials is unacceptable," a BJP release said.

"The Chief Minister of Gujarat has a radical tone to his politics and is described as dictatorial. He has a wrong perception of religious freedom," members of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of the ruling coalition of Germany had reportedly told the media during their visit to Ahmedabad on April 8.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 785438.cms

[Lilo]

BBC Poll: China, Pakistan, Germany most negative about India
Posted by Saabira Chaudhuri on Monday, April 19, 2010

A BBC Poll across 28 countries finds that global perceptions about the US have become more positive, while those of India are more negative as compared to a year ago.
For the first time since 2005, views of the US are more positive than negative, leading the Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes (Pipa) to conclude: “the ‘Obama effect’ is real.”
Interestingly, India is one of just two countries (the other being Turkey) in which perceptions of the US became more negative. In India, positive perceptions dipped from 43 per cent to 39 per cent and negative views increased from 20 to 28 per cent. The poll shows that the only two countries to have majorities with negative views of the United States are Turkey (70%) and Pakistan (52%).
“Worldwide, views of India lean only modestly to the positive, barely edging out views of China. Among 27 countries polled, 15 are positive about India‘s influence in world affairs, ten are negative and two are divided. On average, among 27 countries, 36 per cent are positive and 31 per cent negative about India‘s influence. A high 33 per cent d do not provide an answer or are neutral,” says the report.
China, Pakistan and Germany are found to be the most negative about India, with 47 percent, 48 percent and 46 percent of those polled from these countries expressing negative views. South Korea and the US are the most positive about India, with 56 percent and 55 percent respectively stating that they have positive perceptions.
Negative views about India in Portugal and Italy have decreased since 2009, while in France and Germany positive views have risen.
Germany is the most favourably viewed nation (an average of 59% positive), followed by Japan (53%), the United Kingdom (52%), Canada (51%), and France (49%). The European Union is viewed positively by 53 per cent. In contrast, Iran is the least favourably viewed nation (15%), followed by Pakistan (16%), North Korea (17%), Israel (19%), and Russia (30%). China has remained almost stable: its positive ratings remain at 40 per cent, while its negative ratings have fallen a little, to 38 per cent.

Full report pdf.

I find this negative view of Germans for India quite intriguing.
Actually reading together with the recent visa denial to Modi, things are looking omnious on the indo-german front.

Any theories to explain this negativity?

[svinayak]

Negative views about India in Portugal and Italy have decreased since 2009, while in France and Germany positive views have risen.
I find this negative view of Germans for India quite intriguing.
Actually reading together with the recent visa denial to Modi, things are looking omnious on the indo-german front.

Any theories to explain this negativity?

Anybody analysed why these polls are being taken and compared. The Anglo world needs these to measure its influence for foreign policy and future planning. They also want to make sure no other third world country gain influence without their control. This is the most important control(media image) they have in the 21st century

.

[rahuls]

I find this negative view of Germans for India quite intriguing.
Actually reading together with the recent visa denial to Modi, things are looking omnious on the indo-german front.

Any theories to explain this negativity?

Anybody analysed why these polls are being taken and compared. The Anglo world needs these to measure its influence for foreign policy and future planning. They also want to make sure no other third world country gain influence without their control. This is the most important control(media image) they have in the 21st century
.

Even then I don't understand German negativity towards India. Was their any past Indo-German conflict ? I don't remember anything like that.

[svinayak]

Even then I don't understand German negativity towards India. Was their any past Indo-German conflict ? I don't remember anything like that.

There may be something to do with Pakistan I guess

[Prem]

Long time ago , I distinctively remember a German delgate visiting Punjab recommneding not to do R&D in agriculture becasue of lack of Moola and was told that we might be poor but dont lack brain.
Few days ago i flew to Desh by Lufthansa as they do have good service and had bit chat with the hostess as she was curious and could not guess if i was desi as she enquired if i was Indian ( it might have been deliberate). There is definitely some kind of prejudicial jealous feeling as she wanted to know how come lately their Business and First cabins are full with indian folks. This was right after she mentioned customary poverty etc. naturally, i gave her the glimpse of upcoming future in real nutshell soliloquoy. This was on the first leg and then i met few more bhaibhands in the lounge in Fra and noticed except Teen/s selling " peeple" , the whole cabin was filled with Indians. The lady next to me has made last minute decision to attend weeding in Delhi and the Punjabi guy behind me was taking his old old father to his village in Punjab as he was misisng his other grand kids. Same kind of ratio on the way back to Fra and different hostess shared the similar observation with me . They must have been doing guftgu regarding desis as they hoped to see onlee their kind at that stage.

[rahuls]

Even then I don't understand German negativity towards India. Was their any past Indo-German conflict ? I don't remember anything like that.

There may be something to do with Pakistan I guess

Ok, I understand if the German govt. is pro Pakistan due to politics. But I don't understand German people being negative about India. Does the Pakistani diaspora has such an influence on German public. In general, how influential is Pakistani diaspora among Europeans ?

[anishns]

Don't know much about the credibility of the poll from Beebs!
But this should give some sort of an idea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany%E2 ... _relations

Germany is India's largest European trading partner and the 5th largest trade partner. Current trade volume stands at € 10.5 billion in 2006, € 12.7 billion in 2007-08 and both nations see it increasing to € 30 billion by 2010. India and Germany enjoy strong commerce and cooperation in telecommunications, engineering, environmental technology, food processing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

[Lilo]

nothing concrete found so far on my side either.

But i think it has got to do with hitler's popularity in india.
One side effect of WW II is that germans really hate anything that has got to do with hitler and nazism. And recent news articles etc about the fondness(or say the benign view) towards hitler in india in general should have tipped the scales.

On the flip side, IIT-M and Rourkela ISP were setup with german help in the past.
Some famous indologists like Max Muller etal came from germany and even bollywood is supposed to be quite popular in germany so its confusing .

[Stan_Savljevic]

Was nt Germany the key conduit to the AQ Khan network? Most folks helping AQ Khan procure centrifuge technology were either Germans or the Dutch. Some also came from the brit land. From what I read, there were quite a few who knew that AQK was on to the nuke territory, yet chose to ship equipment for years on end. The general view among these folks was that: browns cant get any of these technologies to work. That also gives away some of the biases.

IITM's initial era came with West German support. Most of the workshops still use those old era equipment. German is offered as a furrin language at IITM and Max Mueller bhavan folks land in the campus for some advanced courses. That said, there is little positive to be said about Max Mueller. His views on browns is bizarre to be decent. It gets worse in some geographical sense, his take on the SLankan Tamils is more bizarre than the general body of the text I have come to understand about Indians in general. Some of his theories were led by the search for a connection between Sanskrit grammar and the so-called Indo-Germanic languages. All this led to the AIT.

[vera_k]

If you look at that poll, Indians are even more negative about Germany (and France). Maybe it is due to the fact that not many Indians would be aware that countries like Germany and France exist on the planet.

[ashish raval]

Where is Amnesty International or they operate only in India, China and in non-west countries and lectures them only ! lol... Look the country where EU headquarters are based and a so called Union who actually preaches so called humanity to rest of the world cannot even tolerate a few women's with Burka as if these womens are monsters. This shows the fragile nature and double face of Europe and exposes its blatently racist and belittling attitude towards other religion, colour, clothes etc.....

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/28cacb3c-5439 ... ab49a.html
People should be proud that they are born in the land of Bharat where everyone is very tolerant and truely practises democracy..

[Varoon Shekhar]

These polls tend to be very mindless, since they don't give a reason as to why India is seen so negatively, nor by whom in those countries. Is the negativity entirely about India's internal situation, its external behaviour, the culture, history, economy, technology, people, what?

Is it intellectuals in those countries that possess the negative sentiments, ordinary individuals, or both? Are the people articulate and eloquent as to why they think India has a negative impact internally or externally. Or is it merely a question of "I think India is a negative country because people follow the Hindu religion, are brown skinned, are poor generally and top of that are allowed to possess nuclear weapons"

That isn't negativity. That's ignorance and stupidity. On the other hand, if the 'negativity' stems from a position like "I think India is a wonderful country with wonderful people, but unfortunately, the government and large numbers of people are not doing enough to lift themselves out of poverty, illiteracy, poor sanitation, corruption and environmental damage" , such 'negative' perceptions can be respected.

[Gerard]

Deoband condemns ban on veil in Europe

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband Maulana Abdul Khalique Madrasi has condemned the European countries, especially Belgium, for the law curbing Muslim women to wear veil. "The act is undemocratic and against secularism. Some anti-Islamic forces are trying to curb the religious freedom of Muslims in these countries," he alleged.

[Paul]

http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/24/stories ... 001300.htm

Stop hush-hush accord with EU on FTA, demands CPI(M)
Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday accused the United Progressive Alliance government of secretly negotiating an India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, and asked it not proceed to in the matter without taking Parliament and State governments into confidence.

In a statement here, the Polit Bureau charged that the Centre was set to conclude the FTA by October, keeping Parliament and the State governments in the dark despite its far-reaching consequences for the economy and the people.

Bid to lower

Indian tariffs

Stressing that the EU was seeking to lower Indian tariffs to zero or near-zero levels for 90 per cent of agricultural products while leaving untouched the huge subsidies EU agriculture enjoyed, the CPI(M) warned that this would allow EU to dump subsidised European farm products in the Indian market.

Similar FTAs had already impacted Indian agriculture, with cheap palm oil imports destroying domestic production.

Expressing surprise that the government was even discussing rewriting Indian patent and copyright laws, besides the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the party said this action only underscored the scant respect it had for Parliament. Accepting product patents for drugs and pharmaceuticals under TRIPS already restricted Indians' access to cheap medicines.

A further set of pro-monopoly and pro-corporate measures of extension of patent life by five years, reduction of farmers' rights in favour of agri-business, and data exclusivity as being demanded by the EU would further harm the people's interests and access to medicines, seeds and food, the Polit Bureau said.

Illegal seizure

The EU's demand that India brand “counterfeit” all pharmaceutical products that were not in conformity with its patent laws and which India exported to others through EU territory was a crude attempt to justify the illegal seizures it had carried out recently.

The CPI(M) expressed surprise that India was even willing to discuss such issues with the EU, particularly when it was planning, along with Brazil, to invoke World Trade Organisation dispute settlement provisions against the seizure.

As for the proposed massive cuts in import duties on industrial goods, the CPI(M) said this would greatly impact the country's manufacturing sector that was already facing job losses and shrinking markets.

The statement underlined that the provisions were also seeking financial liberalisation in investment and services, something that the Left opposed when the UPA government sought to carry out those measures.

The party assailed the government for its willingness to lower tariff barriers, which are used to protect industry and agriculture, and for creating TRIPS provisions, which were completely skewed, for opening the Indian market to the EU.

[rahuls]

The International Criminal Court: India was right!

Almost the same article here without the India references:

The International Criminal Court: Europe's Guantanamo Bay?

India , it may be remembered, refused to sign the Rome statute establishing the Court because of what it saw as double standards and the Court’s reluctance to criminalise wars of aggression and the use of weapons of mass destruction.

The ICC’s claims to international jurisdiction and judicial independence are institutionally flawed and the Court’s approach has been marred by blatant double-standards and serious judicial irregularities. The Hague-based ICC is increasingly being seen as the European equivalent of the US tribunal at Guantánamo Bay , which similarly claims international jurisdiction.

Far from being an independent and impartial court, the ICC’s own statute grants special “prosecutorial” rights of referral and deferral to the Security Council, or more specifically its five permanent members. As India warned eight years ago, political interference in the legal process was thus made part of the Court’s founding terms of reference.

The Court is also umbilically tied to the European Union which provides over 60 percent of its funding. The expression, “He who pays the piper calls the tune”, could not be more accurate. The ICC has ignored all European or Western human rights abuses in conflicts such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq or human rights abuses by Western client states. Instead, the Europeans have chosen to focus the Court exclusively on Africa.

Africa fought long and hard for its independence. It must reject this new “legal” colonialism. The ICC’s double-standards and autistic legal blundering in Africa has derailed delicate peace processes – thereby prolonging devastating civil wars.

First do some farcical judgments in Africa, gain legitimacy among European people, apply it on to the third world and gain moral right !!

[Sanjay M]

Dutch Vote Shifts to the Right

[g.sarkar]

I find this negative view of Germans for India quite intriguing.
Actually reading together with the recent visa denial to Modi, things are looking omnious on the indo-german front. Any theories to explain this negativity?

Sirji,
I lived and worked in Europe for 10 years, including 8 in Germany. In my humble opinion the negative view of Germans is due to the following reasons: Common German workers enjoy (or enjoyed, as things have declined a lot recently) a lot of privileges. 30 days vacation every year that increase with age to 6 weeks. Most firms pay a bonus called “Urlaubs-Geld” or vacation pay, where you get another 50% pay during the days you are on vacation. Then there is universal medical insurance, unemployment insurance etc. At the bottom there is a social net to protect a German citizen against financial ruin. Now, along with all these there exists an under laying fear that these privileges will be somehow be lost. German economy depends on exports of quality products at premium prices. This export can easily be curtailed, as the products of other countries improve and they are not willing to pay the premium price for the perceived higher quality. So, as the benefits of the workers are reduced, and as the times grow difficult, the Government, with the agreement of the firms prepares the population for the worst by a hidden propaganda. This propaganda is this: Things are getting bad over here, but see, things are so much worse in India, Africa, UK, USA, China, whichever country they can show in bad light. So, the idea is you are lucky to live in Germany, and do not complain. This is done subtly and almost automatically day after day, week after week. Each bad news (and there are always some economic bad news) is covered by some bad news from somewhere else. Now, I am sure you will agree that it is easy to get bad news from India; there is no control on the foreign press. They can come in and go all over town. For other countries such as China there is control and consequences of showing them in a bad light. If you are Indian, you can easily discover these things. For example, it is February, and they discuss an economic topic in Germany or EU, followed by some bad scenes about India. Then you say, hey that was about a festival in October, why is this being shown now? Did they keep it for a future use? Obviously, they kept the clip for future use. For example, as the corruption in the housing agency Neue Heimat was exposed, they often showed the corruption in India. The inherent message is “We Germans are better than every one else, we maybe undergoing some temporary difficulties, but look at the others, they are infinitely worse.” One effect of showing India in bad light in this way for years is that common Germans still think India in terms of beggars, elephants, snake charmers, naked sadhus, and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Recent success in IT and improvements in Indian economy has done a lot to improve India’s image amongst Germans, but it may have also raised the fear of a future competitor. Historically, Germany was a pariah state after 1945. It was intensely disliked by most European nations, due to the Second World War and due to the emerging facts about the holocaust. At that time, a lot of German projects were started in India. I am talking about mega projects like Rourkela Steel plant and large factories by AEG (NGEF) and Siemens, and collaboration with Indian companies TELCO. During that time Germany spent money on subjects like Indology in German Universities, so that the Germans received information about India. As India worked on import substitution and was not willing to spend money on premium products from Germany, interest about India waned in the seventies. But even today, in large companies, there are people in high management positions that have spent years in India, during the beginning of their careers. Most of them still have a soft spot for India, and know exactly what is going on in India. They like India also because those days very few European countries welcomed them as India did. But they are not the mango people. From the late 70s, the position of India was taken by China. Large projects were started there, and an enormous number of students came to study in German universities. And the Germans followed by spending money on educating their people about China, a positive picture of China was cultivated. I am sure, as China will move on, as India did, Germans will move on to other countries, where money will be made. Once, a director of a large German company told me, it is inherently more difficult to run an economy like Germany that is poor in resources and has to maintain a high standard of living. The solution that they have adopted is to work very pro-actively to keep their lead in technology. So, image of India is directly dependent on the amount of business they get to do.
Gautam

[svinayak]

Check how many multinational companies are trying to expand inside India. If any company from these countries face problem watch for negative info about India.

[Neshant]

I remember when Enron was held up. The propaganda machinery known as the foreign press went overboard. As it turned out, Enron was a far bigger scam than even they could imagine.

[Venkarl]

The India-France nuclear pact has formally become operational even as New Delhi and Washington are still struggling with finalising details of a key reprocessing pact required to implement their nuclear deal.

http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/588647

If americans keep on lingering in pakiland with new offers and pleasing ignorance then they should forget setting up even a substation in India

Sir..to me..all this Indo-US nuke deal is benefiting more to France, Russia et al than US

[chaanakya]

Check how many multinational companies are trying to expand inside India. If any company from these countries face problem watch for negative info about India.

You've hit Bulls eye. That is the Game , as always.

[Prem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/busin ... rupee.html
India and E.U. Accelerate Efforts to Clinch Trade Deal

MADRID — With global world trade negotiations stalled, India and the European Union are pressing to complete a bilateral free trade agreement in the autumn that is intended to triple their €53 billion trade flow within five years. fter nine rounds of negotiations, India and the European Union are closing in on such a free trade agreement, Anand Sharma, the Indian minister of commerce and industry, said in an interview. Mr. Sharma said that he would meet with the European trade commissioner, Karel De Gucht, in September and that “we hope that both of us will be able to reach an agreement.” Both sides are aiming for a framework agreement in time for an E.U.-India summit meeting in Brussels, scheduled for October.

( Lets hope their Hypocrite Faowki Akkar is busted now and they do want to make deal)

[Rony]

EU asks Indian Navy's help on piracy

The EU has requested India’s help in tackling piracy, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton told journalists during a four-day visit to New Delhi, explaining that as pirates are squeezed out of the seas close to Somalia by the EU's Atalanta operation, they are moving closer to the waters off India. During meetings particularly with Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Ashton underlined that the strategic cooperation that is already well-established on terrorism should now be expanded into maritime security.

Ashton hopes to leave India, on 25 June, with reassurances from Menon and his colleagues at the ministerial meetings that they will commit resources from the Indian Navy. She also suggested India could take a leadership role as one of the regional coordinators of joint action on piracy, offering some international status to her request for assistance.

[Rony]

Why dont the Indian govt take up the cause of the Romas in Europe ? After all the Danish and other euros always poke their nose in India's internal affairs.During Indira Gandhi's time, India did maintained excellent relations with the European Romas.

Hindus ask Denmark to stop Roma deportations

Hindus are asking for immediate end to reportedly forcible mass deportations of Roma from Denmark.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that instead of cracking down and raids on minority Roma brothers and sisters and stereotyped approach, Denmark should come up with a comprehensive strategy to rehabilitate them and make them productive partners of the community.

Were not Roma Europeans? Was freedom of travel anywhere in European Union for all Europeans or it was just for “Europeans minus Roma”? Roma had reportedly been in Europe since ninth century CE, how long more they had to reside in Europe to prove that they were “real and equal” Europeans like any other, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, asked.

This reported maltreatment of Roma in Denmark was simply inhuman and outside even European Union norms and should end, Rajan Zed argued.

Europe’s most persecuted and discriminated community, Roma were reportedly facing apartheid conditions in Europe. Roma reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, etc., Zed pointed out.

Rajan Zed stressed that Danish National Church (Folkekirken), which represented about 90 percent of the Danes, should also come out in support of the cause of this distinct ethnic and cultural group of Roma, because religion taught us to help the helpless.

Denmark is rated among nations with best quality of life, highest per capita income, and low unemployment. Its literacy rate is 100% and its hydrocarbon-rich economy is reported to be booming.

[Sanjay M]

Euro Coins Bearing Pope's Image Begin Circulating




So if Benedict is the only religious figure from past or present being put on European Union currency, then does that amount to showing favoritism towards a particular religion?

Does the EU have any charter on separation between Church and State?

It seems to me that putting the Pope's image on currency can amount to spreading and even promoting that religion.

[JE Menon]

Sanjay,

Each Eurozone country puts its own symbols on its Euro coins (although key elements of all coins are identical). I guess these with the Pope must be Italian. I doubt any other country is going to mint coins with this chap on it.

[RajeshA]

Sanjay,

Each Eurozone country puts its own symbols on its Euro coins (although key elements of all coins are identical). I guess these with the Pope must be Italian. I doubt any other country is going to mint coins with this chap on it.

Vatican City has concluded agreements with the European Union permitting it to use the euro as their official currency and mint coins. The Vatican is authorised to issue euro coins for a maximum annual face value of EUR 1 000 000. In the year when the Holy See becomes vacant and in each Jubilee Year, the Vatican may issue additional coins totalling a maximum of EUR 300 000.

Italy has nothing to do with it. During the time of the Italian lira, the case was different.

[JE Menon]

So it's even smaller. It's just the Vatican doing this.

[RajeshA]

I find this negative view of Germans for India quite intriguing.
Actually reading together with the recent visa denial to Modi, things are looking omnious on the indo-german front.

Any theories to explain this negativity?

I am not sure I can explain this, but I can only say from my experiences here in Germany.

The Indian narrative consists of:

• 1) Cultural India
• 2) Poor India
• 3) Economic Super Power India
• 4) Nuclear Weapons Power India

1) Cultural India - This is what fascinates the Germans the most, our culture, our rituals, the colorful clothing, the spicy food, Buddhism, Shiva, Hindu Gods with six hands, the Incredible India! Except in the very few overly Christian communities in provincial Germany, in the South mostly, all Germans who have some level of education are fascinated by India. Bollywood was in and around 2003/2004 the rave in Germany. Shah Rukh Khan is well known in a certain subculture in Germany. Culture-wise perhaps no other country would get such high marks as India in Germany. The only competition would be from American Hollywood and American Music Industry, British Literature & Latin American Salsa.

2) Poor India - As explained so well by g.sarkar ji, all European nations need to feel good about themselves so showing poverty, corruption, etc. of other countries helps them feel better. All is sold under the banner of social awareness, human rights, aid for third world, human sympathy, wagerah, wagerah. This coin has two sides, and it will remain that way, until India pulls its poor out of the poverty. The middle class is held responsible for not caring about the Indian poor. Indian military is also seen as snatching away the share, that should go to the poor. Here India does lose points.

3) Economic Super Power India - In many circles there is growing awareness about India's new found position in the world. I have been asked about India's rise as an economic power, almost as the first item of conversation. Software companies in Germany however do speak of certain difficulties in having some operations in India - some of it is simply frustration accompanying operational changes, some of it has to do that some Indians on the other side, may yet not have the same qualifications in that field, but all that is normal. The cost benefit is of course known to all. The points that India loses with poverty awareness in Germany, India gains here. One can't really expect a transformation of German view of India in such a short period of time.

4) Nuclear Weapons Power India - If anywhere, this is where I think, Germans would get their negative view of India. Germans abhor nuclear weapons, and any new gate-crashers into the nuclear club would be looked upon with scorn. Many Germans have had their views of India, as the peaceful country, the country of Gandhi, the cultural soft superpower shattered as India went nuclear. Because many did love India, so the scorn on India is that much more. It is very difficult to explain to them the context. In fact, to retain moral purity and moral high ground, many do not want to be educated on security matters and security concerns of India. With time, this negativity would also die down. After India does not like Pakistan, always want to mention, that we are a nuclear super-dooper paawer.

JMTs

[RajeshA]

So it's even smaller. It's just the Vatican doing this.

Well the Pope is not just the head of a religious order, but he is also the sovereign of a sovereign state. It is natural that a sovereign state would like the face of their head on the coins they mint, especially as the head is such a focal point of the state's life.

[svinayak]

I find this negative view of Germans for India quite intriguing.
Actually reading together with the recent visa denial to Modi, things are looking omnious on the indo-german front.

Any theories to explain this negativity?

There is another narrative the pseudo seculars are trying to create - the Nazi/Hitlar and Hindutva/Modi.
They tried this with Gujarat riots and other campaigns. Now this movement also needs another input to show the displeasure of anti-Nazi/anti-hitler. What is better than the German govt itself to show its deep antipathy to nazi/hitler by denouncing Modi. This is a game which has a manufactured target and players and the media playing to the gallery.