The book examines  how the European Union, which in the past had tended to be seen by India as an undervalued partner, is now increasingly part of most conversations in fields like the economy, technology, standards, best practices, development, defence and security.

The book shows that the renewed focus on Europe is the result of changing geopolitics, India’s own priorities, Europe’s growing relevance in the post-Brexit era, China’s expanding footprint in the continent, and the search for alternatives to the loss of the UK as the gateway to Europe. The uncertainty inherent in the Brexit process and with the UK ceasing/having ceased to be the traditional gateway to Europe, India has been compelled to revisit, re-examine and rethink its own policies towards Europe and search for alternatives to Britain.

Rajendra K. Jain was formerly  Professor and Chairperson at the Centre for European Studies, and Director, Europe Area Studies Programme, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. He has been the first Jean Monnet Chair in India  and has most recently published Changing Indian Images of the European Union: Perception and Misperception (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) and India, Europe and Pakistan (2018).