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MEP Welcomes Unprecedented European Parliament call for India to Gain Permanent Seat at UN Security Council

24th September 2008
Baroness Nicholson MEP

Baroness Nicholson MEP today successfully led Members of the European Parliament to an unprecedented decision backing India’s ambition for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Baroness Nicholson MEP, who was rapporteur for the Liberal Group on the vote, stated:

“I am delighted at this wonderful step forward.  This historic move by the European Parliament to call on the UN Security Council to admit India as a permanent member was not without some opposition. I pushed strongly in favour and I am glad that my colleagues have recognised the merits of the arguments.”

“India is no longer an emerging power; it is a world power both economically and politically and this should be recognised by the United Nations.  It is also a responsible member of the international community, being a major contributor to UN peace keeping deployments around the globe.  It is only right that more than 60 years on from the founding of the United Nations the Security Council should reflect the world around it.”

The European Parliament’s resolution on the preparations for the EU-India Summit states:

whereas India has emerged as a major actor in the international community and one of the largest contributors to UN peace-keeping missions and recognition of this enhanced status should be recognized at the UN through a permanent seat on the UNSC;