Deliberations in the EU Parliament with focus on South Asia.

South Asian delegation members standing together outside the European Parliament building in Brussels — The South Asian delegation gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels ahead of the meeting.

South Asian Delegation Meets with European Parliament Members in Brussels

A delegation of representatives from South Asian countries convened at the European Parliament in Brussels for discussions hosted by Member of Parliament Ondrej Dostal. The meeting brought together delegates and speakers representing India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to engage with Members of Parliament on matters of mutual interest.

Delegates and Members of Parliament seated at the panel discussion table inside the European Parliament chamber — Delegates and Members of Parliament convene at the panel discussion inside the European Parliament chamber.

Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO) and the United Diplomatic Council, presented the meeting as an opportunity for South Asian nations to come together. He congratulated Pakistan, the current chair country of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), represented by its Chargé d’Affaires.

Panellists engaged in active discussion at the European Parliament committee room table — Panellists engage in active discussion during the session at the European Parliament.

Representatives from the Embassies of China and Sri Lanka were present at the gathering, contributing to the international scope of the dialogue. The presence of multiple diplomatic delegations underscored the significance of the forum as a platform for cross-regional engagement.

Member of Parliament Ondrej Dostal proposed engagements aimed at enabling trade partnerships among the participating countries. The meeting facilitated direct exchange between South Asian representatives and European Parliament officials, providing an opportunity to strengthen ties and foster cooperation between the regions. The gathering reflected ongoing efforts to enhance diplomatic and parliamentary relations across continents.

The delegation from Bangladesh also emphasized the importance of strengthening trade relations. It was noted that the Member of Parliament had visited New Delhi two months earlier, where he addressed both Indian and Bangladeshi delegates. The meeting also took a positive turn through discussions involving Polish delegates and Arcon International, an Indian company operating in Poland that has been working to recruit South Asian candidates for various jobs in Poland.

Delegates sharing an informal moment together inside the European Parliament building — Delegates share an informal moment in the corridors of the European Parliament following the session.

The meeting also focused on upcoming SCO meetings to be held in the South Asian region. Participants noted that India’s participation in the Kyrgyz Republic in the past had been encouraging. The delegates were also briefed on the deliberations and projects being planned by the United Diplomatic Council during Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO.