EU, India discuss agenda for summit

India and the European Union (EU) Monday held talks on trade and security issues Monday ahead of their summit next month, officials said. The EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton and India's Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna chaired talks in the southern city of Bangalore to prepare for 12th India-EU summit on February 10 in New Delhi. The summit is to cover issues including counter-terrorism, climate change and differences over a proposed free trade pact, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". The EU is India's largest trading partner with bilateral volume worth U.S. $86 billion in 2010. That amount is expected to double by 2015 if the pact is finalized. Ashton was also scheduled to meet with Defense Minister AK Antony and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. "I hope the visit will strengthen our political and economic ties and create opportunities for synergies in addressing regional and global challenges, including for example in the field of security, “she said.