New Delhi, May 7 -- India and Europe are widely seen as sharing democratic values, providing a solid foundation for deeper cooperation. Yet Europe is still perceived in India as relatively weak in both economic and military terms, especially when compared to major powers such as the United States and China. This gap between shared values and perceived power continues to limit Europe's strategic appeal.

India's rapid rise as a global power presents both a major opportunity and a strategic challenge for EU-India relations, according to a recent survey of Indian elites. The survey, conducted on behalf of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom's New Delhi office and India's Kalinga Kusum Foundation, covered nearly 1,400 representatives...