"As far as trade is concerned there has never been any doubt in the mind of the Indians that this is a matter for the European Union, whether bilaterally or multilaterally," said Smadja.
But on foreign and security policy "the EU is still out for the Indians," Smadja said, adding that given its long tradition of political and diplomatic relations with many EU member states New Delhi will continue to maintain strong bilateral relations if the EU fails to show it can make a difference.
According to Ambassador Smadja, who has held her current position for three years and has tried to coordinate closely with the 25 other EU ambassadors present in New Delhi, the strategic partnership with India launched in 2004 would benefit from an up-scaling, especially at political level.
Much has been done to boost cooperation on climate change, the environment, research, technology and education, but the EU could surely make more effort to strengthen dialogue on international security issues, she said.
"If India is running for a seat in the Security Council and India cannot come to the EU to secure its position there, because we will say to them: 'Sorry we don't have a common position, we are observers so we cannot vote," it is normal that India will turn to each and every one of the EU's 27 member states," Smadja argued, sounding a realistic note.
But she insisted that the focus must be much wider than the narrow issue of reforming the UN Security Council.
Regarding joint efforts to build a better multilateral system, for example within the human rights council or the other committees of the General Assembly, "there is proof that we cooperate quite well," stressed the EU ambassador.
The same is true regarding regional cooperation with India's immediate neighbours, especially on relations with Afghanistan, which many in India view as a failing state.
Exchanges of views between the EU and India on Afghanistan have been upgraded to a format that resembles a form of incipient consultation.
"We have started to think about how we can cooperate together. India is extremely involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. So are we," said Smadja, noting that the EU and India clearly have the same agenda: boosting the stability and also economic growth of the region.
"We do believe that more stability will also come with economic and trade links," she said.
Danièle Smadja was speaking to EurActiv Managing Editor Daniela Vincenti-Mitchener.
